At three in the afternoon, a girl named Erica Ting sat at her desk, trying to finish her homework.
Her pen moved across the page, but tears kept falling, smudging the ink.
One drop.
Then another.
"Why… why is it always like this?"
She whispered between sobs, until her trembling hand finally slammed the pen down. With a sharp motion, she flung her homework to the floor.
Her eyes drifted toward the scissors lying on the desk. For a moment, her body froze.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, but her gaze locked onto the blade.
Slowly, her shaking hand reached forward.
Her fingers curled around the scissors. She muttered under her breath:
"Looks like… this world won't have me around much longer.
It doesn't matter anyway. I can't keep living like this…"
She raised the scissors, ready to end it
When suddenly, the air in her room began to distort.
Right in front of her, a strange vortex swirled into existence, dark mist curling out of it with a low, eerie hum.
"W-what… the hell is that?"
Erica stumbled back, eyes wide in shock.
Cautiously, she rose to her feet, inching closer to the strange phenomenon.
"Why… why is there something like this in my room—Hey! Ahhhh!!"
Before she could finish, the vortex surged with violent suction, dragging her in.
She had no time to resist, no chance to scream properly.
In the next instant, the room fell silent—
as if nothing had ever happened.
She plummeted from the sky, screaming, "Waaaahhh what the—?!" before slamming face-first into the dirt with a loud "Oof!" Then… blackout.
2 hours later, she woke up.
She rubbing her aching head, she groaned,"What… the hell just happened…?" she muttered, still dazed.
Slowly, she pushed herself up, staggering unsteadily to her feet. Her legs felt like jelly. She looked around, confused and dizzy, until she spotted a river nearby. Her throat was burning dry.
"Ugh, forget about where am I first, I'm so thirsty…"
She stumbled over to the river, kneeling down to drink. But the moment she caught her reflection in the water, something felt horribly wrong. She blinked a few times, staring closer—then froze.
"Holy who is this banana pancakes?!!"
She fell backward onto her butt, panicking as she pointed at her own reflection.
"Th-this… this isn't me!! AAAAAHHH!!"
Her scream echoed so loudly through the forest that even the birds scattered from the trees, flapping away in fright.
He stared at his own body in shock.
"H-How… how the hell did I turn into this?!"
Frantically, he slapped his own cheeks, desperate to wake up from what he hoped was a dream.
"Argh—ow! It hurts… so this isn't a dream, weh seriously?!"
His hands trembled. His knees wobbled so badly he could barely stand upright.
Then, out from the shadowed forest—emerged something monstrous. A hulking beast with glowing crimson eyes, skin as black as tar, its form vaguely canine but twisted, unnatural.
"Holy Molly!" he stammered, shaking like a pudding in an earthquake.
The creature didn't give him a single warning. With a guttural snarl, it lunged.
"Oh, no, it's gonna eat me!!" he screamed, bolting into the trees. His legs pumped desperately, his breath ragged, sweat streaming down his face as twigs whipped against his arms.
But no matter how fast he ran, the sound of snapping branches and heavy paws crashing behind him only grew louder.
"Weh seriously!? It's gonna eat me!" He ran as fast as he could, shouting while sweat streamed down his face.
He accidentally kicked a stone and fell to the ground. Turning back, he saw the demon getting closer and tried to crawl backward.
"D-don't come near me!"
The demon didn't care what he said and lunged toward him.
"Damn it!!" He covered his face with one hand, waiting for death.
Suddenly, a figure wearing a black cloak, black pants, and a white shirt rushed out of the shadows with a katana. In one strike, the demon's head was severed, blood gushing as the body collapsed.
The cloaked figure pressed his boot on the corpse and asked coldly,
"Where did this kid come from? Why are you here? Do you even know how dangerous this place is?"
Shaking, he looked at the cold man.
"I… I don't know why I'm here either. But I know something strange pulled me into this place."
"No wonder." The cold man said. The man glanced at the corpse, then turned back to him.
"Come with me. It's not safe here."
"Oh, okay…" He stood up and followed the man.
"Who are you?" Erica asked.
"My name is Yoruto. The hero" Yoruto replied.
.
"Oh… ha!? You're the hero!? Seriously?!" Erica's eyes widened in shock.
"You don't need to be so surprised," Yoruto said coldly, expression blank. "Being a hero isn't anything special. Heroes only bring pain and helplessness."
"...And you? What's your name?" Yoruto asked.
Erica froze. (Name? Damn it, I'm a guy now… I haven't even thought of one yet!)
Yoruto glanced at his expression and immediately understood what's Haruki was thinking.
"No need to think. Let me give you a new name"
"What? new name? Cool, so, what is my new name?" Erica asked curiously.
Yoruto thought for a while as they walked.
"…Haruki. How's that?"
Erica blinked, then nodded slowly.
"Haruki… I'll accept it. A name is better than none. Wait, how did you know I didn't have my new name yet? Don't tell me you were also dragged here by that thing."
"Yeah," Yoruto replied, not even glancing at him. "But it wasn't just us. Others were dragged here too."
Haruki scratched his head.
"Others too?" he asked curiously.
"Not too many." Yoruto said casually.
"How many of them??" Haruki asked.
Yoruto shot him a cold look.
"Enough. Whether it's many or few doesn't matter. Stop making noise."
Haruki lowered his head and muttered softly,
"…Oh."
They walked for about six minutes until finally arriving.
But instead of some ordinary building, what stood before them was a massive futuristic complex, surrounded by towering skyscrapers fused together, glowing holograms, and advanced AI technology. It looked like something out of a future era.
Haruki's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Weh seriously?—what the heck is this place? It's huge! Feels like I just walked into the future! Seriously, it's like skyscraper after skyscraper merged into some mega-mega-mega building!"
Yoruto glanced at him and said coldly, "Are you done running your mouth, or are you actually going to follow me?"
Haruki grumbled while trailing after him.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming…"
Inside the colossal tower, Yoruto explained, "This is the HILOXY Building. It has different wings—classrooms where you can study, training halls, simulation chambers… and—"
Haruki tilted his head. "And what else?"
Yoruto narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't touch anything that doesn't belong to you. If you break something here, you won't be paying for it—you'll be locked in a room for a hundred days. I'm not joking."
Haruki immediately shrank back, avoiding eye contact.
"Uh… got it…"
(He thought to himself: Damn, this guy's scarier than that giant dog demon that chased me earlier…)
As they continued walking, blue holographic displays shimmered everywhere, AI drones hovered past, and futuristic gadgets lined the halls. Dozens of people moved about with purpose.
Haruki's mouth opened wide again.
"Wow! This place is massive! And so many cool things—unbelievable!"
Yoruto smirked faintly. "I'll introduce you to our Young Heroes."
Haruki's eyes lit up like fireworks.
"Young Heroes!? For real!? That's awesome! How many are there?"
"There aren't many" Yoruto replied. " we only select the top four. Actually, only three right now, since one is still missing. Those chosen are called the Genius Young Hero. If you happen to become one, you'll enter the trials—saving the world, be famous and feel like a boss, competing in challenges. But it all depends if you can pass the exam. Fail it, and you're out."
Haruki clenched his fists, eyes sparkling with determination.
"So if I pass… I can become one of them?"
Yoruto kept walking, his tone flat.
"That depends on you. Becoming a hero isn't that simple."
Yoruto kept walking and said, "If you want it, then train with me."
Haruki had nothing to say, so he just followed him.
They arrived at a big building. Above the door, the sign read: Martial Arts Hall — Rankings.
Yoruto stopped for a moment, glancing at Haruki. "Only Genius Young Hero can enter this hall."
Haruki tilted his head. "If it's only for Genius in Young Hero, then… doesn't that mean I can't go in?"
Yoruto nodded. "Correct, but I can let you in what ever I want."
He reached to the door and he tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Hm. It's locked." Turning away, he headed down another corridor.
"Let's meet them later. They're probably still discussing something. No need to disturb them yet."
His expression didn't change at all while walking. Haruki followed behind, a bit disappointed.
"So… where are we going now?"
Yoruto replied flatly, "I'll arrange a room for you first. Come with me."
Haruki instantly brightened up with a grin, eyes lights up. "What, my own room? I bet it's gonna look super cool"
They arrived at an elevator covered in glowing blue holograms.
Haruki's eyes widened as if he had never seen one before. "Weh seriously? even elevators can look this awesome!? So cool!"
Yoruto pressed the button for the 10th floor without even reacting. "Get in already. Don't waste breath on an elevator."
Haruki nodded quickly. "Okay, okay, I'm in."
Ding! The elevator reached the 10th floor.
As they stepped out, Haruki couldn't stop gawking at the halls. "Wow, this place is huge! Way bigger than a hotel!"
Excitedly, he asked, "Soo, where's my room?"
Yoruto, still cold as ever, answered while walking, "Room 130. I have the key. I'll give it to you later."
Haruki squinted suspiciously. "Wait… when did you even get the key?"
Without looking back, Yoruto casually held it up. "Teleported it here. You wouldn't notice."
Haruki's jaw dropped. "That's so OP! Hey, do you think I'll get magic like that too?"
Yoruto said bluntly, "I don't know. Anyway—enough chatter. We're almost at your room."
Haruki's eyes lit up, unable to hold his excitement. "I can't wait to see it!"
They walked until they finally reached Haruki's room. Yoruto handed him a key.
"Here. Open it yourself. Take a look around your room, don't break anything—I've got something else to do." Yoruto said casually.
Haruki grabbed the key from his hand.
"Alright, thanks," he replied.
Yoruto turned and left. Haruki slipped the key into the lock, twisted it, and pushed the door open.
The moment he stepped inside, his face lit up. His whole body jolted forward with excitement as if he had just discovered a treasure.
"Whoa! This place is huge inside!? I thought it would just be a small room—but this is like a whole house! No way this is just a 'room'!" he shouted as he rushed in like a child.
The first thing he saw was the living room, wide and neatly furnished. But without wasting time, he dashed to his own bedroom. He flung the door open and froze in awe.
"Damn! This is awesome! The bed's huge! And… is that a hologram desk?!"
His eyes widened even more as he glanced down at the floor. It wasn't ordinary wood or tiles—it was glass. Beneath it, tiny fish swam gracefully as if he was standing above an aquarium.
"Fish!? That's so cool!…Wait—what if this class breaks? Hpm, never mind." he muttered, half nervous, half amazed.
He lifted his gaze, scanning every corner of the room. Finally, he let out a satisfied breath.
"Not bad at all… So what do I even do now?"
His cheerful expression slowly faded. He dropped onto the edge of the bed, his body sinking as if weighed down by invisible chains. His thoughts drifted back to the world he once belonged to.
"I never acting like this before. If it wasn't for that strange portal dragged me here earlier… I swear, I really would've ended myself."
His voice was low, almost broken.
Then suddenly—knock, knock.
Haruki jerked his head up. He rose and walked to the door, pulling it open.
Standing there was a boy with short black hair, a jacket draped over his shoulders, and dark shorts. His eyes were calm but unreadable.
"Hello, Haruki. I'm Riiki. Mr. Yoruto asked me to guide you around this place. If you want to learn more, come with me. Of course, if you're not ready, you can find me later," Riiki said, his voice polite but slightly distant.
Haruki forced a grin, his earlier gloom fading a little.
"Of course I've got time. I want to see this place. Come on, lead the way!"
Riiki gave a small nod.
"Alright then, follow me."
Haruki followed right behind him, still buzzing with excitement. The hallway stretched out long and wide, with glowing crystal lamps floating near the ceiling, giving off a soft bluish light.
"Wow… even the lamps here look like something out of a sci-fi movie," Haruki muttered, reaching out as if to touch one.
Riiki glanced at him sideways.
"Don't touch that. It's powered by raw energy. Outsiders like you could get burned."
Haruki quickly pulled his hand back.
"Okay, nevermind. I like my fingers the way they are."
They walked further, and the hall suddenly opened up into a huge courtyard. The air felt fresher here, filled with the sound of running water from a small stream that cut through the middle. Stone bridges arched over it, leading to different parts of the compound.
Haruki's jaw dropped.
"Wooah… this isn't just a 'place'—this is like a whole mini city inside a building!"
Riiki kept walking, pointing casually.
"That way leads to the library. Over there is the training ground. Beyond the bridge, you'll find the dining hall and the market street where students trade things. If you walk far enough, you'll even find the garden and the observatory."
Haruki spun around, trying to take it all in.
"Seriously?… there's even a market here? And an observatory!? Man, this is way too cool. My old world just had… malls and boring classrooms."
They passed by a group of students carrying weapons. Some had glowing crystals strapped to their belts, others carried strange books that hummed with light. A few glanced at Haruki curiously, whispering to each other.
Haruki scratched his head awkwardly.
"...They're staring at me. Do I have something on my face or I'm look too handsome?"
Riiki answered calmly, without looking.
"No. You're new. And outsiders always draw attention. Just get used to it."
Haruki puffed his cheeks, then let out a sigh.
"Great. First day here and I'm already the famous K-pop."
Riiki didn't react much, just kept walking until they reached a stone archway carved with glowing runes. Beyond it stretched a massive library, its shelves towering higher than any Haruki had ever seen. Floating platforms drifted up and down, carrying students to reach the higher shelves.
Haruki's eyes sparkled.
"Okay… THIS is insane. The library back home barely had working fans, and this place has flying platforms. Can I… like… ride one of those?"
Riiki finally gave him a small smirk.
"If you don't fall off, sure."
Haruki grinned, practically bouncing on his feet.
"Best. Day. Ever."
Haruki was still gawking at the floating platforms in the library when Riiki cleared his throat.
"Don't get lost here. You won't come out for days if you wander without permission."
Haruki raised his brows.
"Days? Bro, my phone battery didn't even last 24 hours back in my world. How the hell do people survive stuck here for days?!"
Riiki just gave him a flat look.
"No phones here."
Haruki froze, as if his soul left his body.
"…No Wi-Fi?"
"No."
"…No TikTok?"
"No."
"NO GOOGLE MAPS!?"
Riiki's voice dropped.
"Do you want me to leave you in the dark forest?"
Haruki instantly straightened up.
"Nope. I'm good. Lead the way, boss."
They walked out of the library area and crossed another bridge. This time the path opened into a lively market street. Dozens of stalls lined the stone road, filled with glowing fruits, enchanted trinkets, potions bubbling with smoke, and weapons that hummed with faint energy. The air was filled with chatter and laughter, and even the smell of roasted meat.
Haruki's eyes went wide again.
"…This is like… fantasy RPG mixed with a night market."
Riiki nodded calmly.
"Students trade their creations here. Some craft weapons, others potions. You can find almost anything."
Before Haruki could respond, a merchant suddenly shoved a shiny amulet into his hands.
"Special deal! Protects you from nightmares and makes you look handsome!"
Haruki blinked, then grinned.
"Protects me from nightmares? Bro, I've been ugly since birth, I'll take two."
The merchant cackled, and Riiki yanked Haruki away by the collar.
"Don't touch random artifacts. You'll regret it."
Haruki sulked.
"But he said I'll look handsome! Don't crush my dreams, Riiki!"
Riiki ignored him completely and kept walking.
After the busy market, they climbed a spiral stone stairway that led up to the observatory. The moment they stepped out, Haruki's jaw dropped again. The observatory was built at the highest point, its dome open to the skies. Dozens of floating glass lenses hovered in the air, rearranging themselves constantly to focus on different stars and realms.
Haruki whispered, stunned,
"…This is insane. It's like NASA had a baby with Hogwarts."
Riiki looked up at the glowing sky calmly.
"This place lets us track the movement of energy beyond the stars. It's how we prepare for… things you can't yet understand."
Haruki didn't even listen—he was already leaning dangerously over the railing, trying to see how high they were.
"Holy—! If I drop my phone here it's straight into another dimension."
Riiki said"Dude, you don't even have a phone here."
"…Don't remind me, man. It still hurts."
Riiki sighed and turned back.
"Enough sightseeing. Tomorrow your new classroom will start. You better rest tonight."
Haruki groaned dramatically, throwing his arms up.
"School already!? Can't I just… chill? Maybe try more glowing fruit, buy handsome amulet, ride floating platform, live my best life first?"
Riiki's eyes narrowed.
"Or I could let the demon chase you. Your choice."
Haruki stiffened.
"Right. Studying sounds fun. I LOVE study."
As Riiki was leading Haruki out of the library, Haruki kept spinning around, still trying to take in all the floating bookshelves.
"Bro, this place is like Beauty and the Beast's library but on steroids. I swear I saw a book wink at me."
"Stop talking." Riiki's tone was flat.
Haruki rolled his eyes, walking backward. "Relax, I'm just appreciating the—"
BAM!
He smacked right into someone. Hard.
Haruki staggered back, holding his forehead. "Ow—HEY, watch where you're going, where's your eyes?!"
The entire hallway went silent.
Dozens of students nearby froze, eyes wide. A wave of whispers spread like wildfire.
"…Did he just…"
"…He told HER to watch where she's going?…"
"…Is this guy suicidal?"
Even Riiki's usually stone face cracked for a second. His eyes widened, then he muttered under his breath, "Idiot…"
Haruki blinked, confused. "What? What's with everyone's face? It's not like I—"
Then he looked properly at the person he bumped into.
A girl.
Short silver hair that glimmered under the enchanted lanterns. Sharp eyes that looked like they could slice steel. She was beautiful, yes—but the kind of beauty that came with danger, like a blade polished to perfection. Her aura was heavy, the kind that pressed down on everyone around her.
She glared straight at Haruki.
Haruki's brain short-circuited. "…Oh crap, she's hot."
The girl's eyes narrowed even more.
Haruki coughed, straightening up, trying to act tough. "I mean—uh, hey! Still, you should watch where you're going. You can't just walk around with that scary aura blasting everywhere."
A ripple of gasps spread through the crowd.
"…He's insane."
"…No one talks to her like that…"
"…That's the Young Hero…"
But Haruki didn't catch any of it. He was too busy locking eyes with her like he was in some street brawl.
The silver-haired girl—Furuha—took one slow step closer.
"Tch…You've got a mouth."
Haruki smirked, puffing his chest out. "And you've got anger issues. Perfect match, right?"
The students around them nearly fainted. Riiki actually rubbed his temple in despair.
Before Haruki could say anything else—
WHAM!
Furuha's fist slammed straight into his stomach.
Haruki folded instantly, gasping like a dying fish. "OHHH—my organs…! They've been rearranged…!"
Furuha didn't even spare him another glance. She just turned and walked away, her silver hair swaying with each step. The crowd parted in silence, watching her leave like a storm passing by.
Haruki stayed crouched on the floor, clutching his stomach. "…She hit me so hard I think I saw my past life…"
Riiki crouched down beside him, whispering low. "Do you realize what you just did?"
Haruki groaned. "Yeah. Got punched by a girl way prettier than me. My pride's in shambles, man…"
Riiki's eyes narrowed. "Idiot. That was Furuha. The Young Hero."
Haruki blinked up at him, still pale. "Hah!? The Young Hero that Yoruto was talking about!? Oh god, Im domm"
Riiki sighed heavily. "You are dommed"
Haruki just sat there on the cold marble floor, still hugging his stomach like it was his only friend.
"I'm done for… I've lived for one days in this world and I've already pissed off the final boss…"
Riiki didn't even look sympathetic. He just stood there, arms crossed. "Correction: you pissed off the Young Hero. That's worse than the final boss. At least the final boss kills you cleanly."
From the sidelines, students were still whispering and sneaking glances. Some looked horrified. Others looked like they were watching their favorite drama unfold live.
"…He actually survived her punch?"
"…Maybe he's some hidden master?"
"…Nah, he's just stupid."
Haruki dragged himself up on wobbly legs, pointing at the crowd. "Oi, stop whispering like I'm already in a coffin! I'm still alive! …Barely."
Riiki muttered, "Not for long."
Haruki stumbled toward him, still hunched. "Listen, Riiki… bro… if I die, promise me you'll tell everyone I died heroically… not because a hot girl uppercutted my intestines."
Riiki deadpanned, "No promises."
Before Haruki could argue, a group of first-years scurried by, avoiding eye contact like he was carrying a death curse. One of them whispered too loudly:
"…He really told her to watch where she's going…"
Haruki groaned. "I just invented a new way to commit social suicide, didn't I?"
Riiki sighed and started walking. "Come on. Before she comes back to finish the job."
Haruki limped after him, wheezing. "If she comes back, you're using me as a shield, got it?!"
Riiki didn't even break stride. "Gladly."
Riiki grabbed Haruki by the collar like dragging a dead body.
"Up. We're leaving before you get yourself executed."
Haruki, still bent over, clutched his stomach. "Bro… I think my spleen filed for divorce…"
"Move." Riiki didn't slow down.
Students in the hallway were still whispering as the two walked past.
"Did you see that? He talked back to Furuha!"
"He's not gonna last a week here."
"I give him two days."
Haruki groaned, waving weakly at the gossiping crowd. "Yeah, keep betting on my lifespan, guys. Real supportive community."
Riiki didn't even glance at them. His grip on Haruki's shirt tightened.
"You are lucky she didn't kill you on the spot. Most people don't survive one conversation with her."
"Wait—so she just walks around punching people in the gut? Is that like… her hobby?" Haruki wheezed.
"No." Riiki shot him a sharp look. "That was her showing restraint."
Haruki's face went pale. "…That was restraint? Dude, my intestines are currently on shuffle mode."
They finally reached the dormitory wing. The enchanted doors opened with a soft hum, glowing faintly with runes. Riiki shoved Haruki inside.
"Welcome to your room," Riiki muttered flatly, releasing his collar.
Haruki stumbled in, collapsing onto the bed. "Ohh thank the gods… soft mattress. I'll die here in peace…"
Riiki crossed his arms, staring down at him. "You need to understand something. This place is not like your old world. People here have status. Furuha isn't just some student—she's the Young Hero. People worship her. Fear her. Both."
Haruki groaned into the pillow. "Yeah, I noticed the cult vibes when everyone acted like I just insulted Beyoncé."
Riiki's lips twitched. He almost smirked. Almost.
"You're reckless. That's going to get you killed."
Haruki rolled over, staring at the ceiling. "Or… hear me out… maybe she just secretly likes guys who don't bow down to her. Ever think of that, Mr. Poker Face?"
Riiki pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're an idiot."
"Yeah," Haruki grinned weakly, "but I'm a persistent idiot."
The dorm door clicked shut as Riiki left, muttering something about "idiots with no sense of survival."
For a while, Haruki just lay there on the bed, staring at the ceiling. But the silence didn't last.
"…Nope. Not staying put," he whispered, pushing himself up. "If I'm supposed to be in some magical academy or whatever, I'm not just gonna rot in bed like some grounded kid."
He cracked the door open and slipped out, moving on his toes like a cartoon burglar.
The halls of HILOXY were alive with whispers. Students were clustered in corners, eyes darting toward him as he walked past.
"Is that him?"
"Yeah, the idiot who mouthed off to her."
"Unbelievable. He's already a dead man walking."
Haruki tugged his jacket tighter. "Wow, news travels faster than Wi-Fi here. Great. Just what I needed—instant celebrity status."
He turned a corner, still grumbling, when—bump!
Haruki staggered back, nearly falling.
"Hey, watch—" he started, then froze. His eyes widened.
"…Eh?" Haruki blinked hard, like he didn't trust his own vision. "Yoruto? Where the hell—where are you going this morning? I thought you were gone!"
Standing in front of him was Yoruto, older now, sharper features, and definitely no longer the mysterious boy Haruki remembered. At eighteen, he looked like someone who had already seen way too much for his age.
Yoruto narrowed his eyes at Haruki, almost suspicious. "You…" His voice was deeper, steadier. "What are you doing here?"
Haruki pointed at him like an idiot. "What am I doing here? Oh, hmm explore?"
Yoruto's expression didn't shift. He looked at Haruki as though the boy had crawled out of the wrong storybook. " Didn't I told Riiki to explore with you? Or are you trying to sneak?"his cold eyes shot at Haruki face
Haruki tilted his head. "Yeah, well, I just....want to explore more, you see."
The tension between them made the passing students slow down, whispering even louder now. The idiot who pissed off Furuha… now running into Yoruto?
"Great," Haruki muttered under his breath, "now I'm trending twice in one day."
Yoruto's eyes locked onto Haruki like a hawk spotting prey. His voice was calm, but it carried weight.
"You know what you did wrong, right?"
Haruki scratched the back of his head, pretending to look casual but sweating bullets inside.
"Yeah, I know. I, uh… kinda talked back to that Miss Furuha."
A couple of students nearby snorted, whispering, "Kinda? Bro almost declared war."
Yoruto crossed his arms, his presence like a wall. "I know you didn't know her yet at that time, but you should respect everyone here—not only the Young Hero."
"Fine, fine. I'm sorry," Haruki muttered, raising both hands like he was surrendering.
Yoruto leaned in slightly, his gaze sharp enough to slice stone. "You're apologizing to the wrong person. The one who deserves it is Furuha."
"Argh, this world is harder than I thought," Haruki groaned dramatically, tugging at his hair. "At this rate, I'm gonna need an apology punch card. Buy nine, get the tenth free."
Some students laughed under their breath, only to shut up instantly when Yoruto's eyes flicked their way.
Haruki, still sulking, suddenly leaned forward curiously. "Hey… did she ever do something like that to you before?"
"No. She would never," Yoruto replied flatly.
"Okay, but why?" Haruki asked, narrowing his eyes.
Yoruto straightened, his voice steady. "Because I'm her Sensei."
The word hit Haruki like a truck. His jaw dropped. "WHAT!? You're her what? S…Sensei!?"
"Yes," Yoruto confirmed calmly, like he was stating the weather.
Haruki flailed his arms around, nearly tripping over his own feet. "Wait, wait, wait—hold up! If she respects you, doesn't that mean… I should respect you too?"
Yoruto smirked faintly, the kind of smirk that promised pain. "You better. Or… you'll get punched like Furuha did to you." His cold glance drilled into Haruki like a spear.
Haruki's back straightened instantly, his head bobbing like a broken toy. "Y… yes, sir!"
Yoruto gave a single nod, then jerked his thumb toward the dorms. "Go back to your room. Now."
"…Right. Room. Rest. Totally my plan from the start," Haruki muttered, shuffling backward while still keeping Yoruto in sight, like one wrong move would get him decapitated. He even saluted awkwardly before bolting down the hall.
The students watching burst into quiet laughter, whispering:
"Dead man walking."
"He's so screwed."
"At least he's entertaining."
Haruki trudged back to his room, shoulders slumped like a kid who just got scolded for stealing snacks. The whole "I'm her Sensei" bomb Yoruto dropped kept echoing in his head.
"Sensei…? Seriously? Out of all people, her teacher?!" he muttered, stomping into the room. He slammed the door shut, then immediately regretted it because the echo made it sound like he was throwing a tantrum.
He threw himself onto the bed, face-first into the pillow. "Arghhh, screw this world. It's like everyone here's got some title—Sensei, Hero, Champion… Meanwhile I'm just… Haruki. The foreign idiot."
He flopped around like a fish on land for another few minutes before finally lying still, staring blankly at the ceiling. His eyelids grew heavier until, eventually, sleep dragged him down into its depths.