Several days later — at the junior high school.
The hallway to the school was packed with students, chatting and laughing as usual.
It was the typical morning scene you'd find on any normal school day.
But the cheerful atmosphere vanished the moment he appeared.
Onishima Ao — the boy with strange hair: mostly white, but the tips were black.
His sharp, unfriendly eyes and perpetual annoyed expression made it look like nothing in the world ever pleased him.
He instantly became the center of everyone's attention.
Whispers followed him with every step he took.
Anyone who met his gaze immediately turned away in fear, and wherever he walked, people cleared a path for him.
No one dared greet him.
No one even wanted to get close.
Today, though… something seemed a bit off.
As he walked, he kept staring up at the sky, rubbing his chin like he was stuck in deep thought.
"Damn it… I totally forgot today's meat sale… and I didn't bring enough money…
Is there anyone I could borrow from…?"
He glanced around.
Everyone quickly avoided eye contact.
"…Guess not."
Just then, his gaze landed on a perfect little victim in the crowd.
A boy with slouched shoulders, round glasses, and absolutely zero presence.
Ao's lips curled into a smile before he even noticed.
Grab.
The nerdy boy flinched the moment he felt a gloomy aura behind him.
When a hand landed on his shoulder, he instinctively turned around—
"H-hey… you. Nerd."
Just seeing who stood behind him made his knees buckle. Ao was smiling right at him.
"Y-yes…?"
The boy's trembling voice cracked as tears welled at the corners of his eyes.
"Come with me behind the school for a sec. I wanna talk."
Whispers erupted all around them in pity.
Behind the School Building
The boy trailed behind Ao with his head hanging low, muttering prayers in his mind the entire walk.
The back of the school was deserted and dead silent.
The only sounds he could hear were his own shaky breaths and his pounding heartbeat.
He couldn't bring himself to look Ao in the eyes.
"U-um… w-what did you want to talk about…?"
"You don't have to be that nervous."
Ao answered casually—so different from the boy it made him feel dizzy.
"R-right…"
"Alright, let's get straight to the point. Mind lending me… like two or three hundred sil? I… kinda forgot my wallet at home."
"O-of course! No problem!"
The nerd replied without hesitation, hands trembling as he pulled out his wallet.
'Damn it… why today…?
I tried so hard to stay unnoticed, and he still found me…
And is he REALLY only taking two or three hundred!?
If he sees all the money I've got, won't he just take everything…?
No, no… I have to escape. I must run…'
His thoughts raced as he reluctantly pulled out the money.
"Hey, no need to rush. Calm down."
Ao smirked as he waited.
The boy's hands shook harder as he held out the bills—
Then suddenly he froze.
'Wait… why am I even scared?
I've trained. I've worked so hard to get into the prefecture's magic academy…
Why should someone like me bow to someone like him?'
His jaw tightened, and he snatched his hand back.
Ao blinked, confused.
"Hey, hey!! What's your problem? You lending it or not?"
"Onishima-san…"
"Huh?? What the hell's gotten into you??"
"I won't bow to you like everyone else anymore."
'All this time I've trained my magic—Practicing my casting every evening, building my body, studying combat—
Working part-time jobs just to afford my dream of becoming a mage…
Why should someone like Onishima get to walk all over me?
Someone who does nothing but bully people and take their money?
Why do I have to lower my head to someone like that!?'
"What are you even talking about?"
"Your so-called throne—you think it always works? From now on, I'll be the one who knocks you down."
"…Haaah? What are you planning? A duel?"
"Yes."
"Morning class starts soon, you know. I don't really wanna get all sweaty before then."
"Oh? Are you saying you're scared you'll lose?"
That one sentence ignited Ao's temper.
"Say that again!?"
"You're afraid to duel me, aren't you? Because you know you'll lose."
"Don't screw with me!! I'm not afraid of anything!"
"Then duel me."
"…Fine. Whatever."
"My rule: no staffs or weapons. And if I win, you stop bullying everyone."
"I don't bully anyone!! And forget your stupid rules."
"You sure about that?"
"Whatever. Only cowards care about rules. And if I win, you're lending me your entire wallet."
"No problem. I wasn't planning to lose."
"Yeah, yeah—just hurry up."
"We start when the stone hits the ground."
The boy picked up a small stone and tossed it into the air.
Both immediately took their stances.
The stone fell.
Clack.
"—Water Bullet!!!"
The boy thrust out his palm, shouting his spell.
A swirling mass of water formed at his hand, violently surging as he struggled to keep it stable.
Ao whistled. "Didn't expect that from you."
"This is everything I've got!! Take this!!!"
The water bullet launched toward Ao at full force.
'Direct hit!!!
It smashed straight through a wooden log yesterday!
There's no way a human body can'
Thud!!
"Ugh!!"
The explosion of water sent droplets everywhere, dust swirling from the impact.
And then—
The nerd's body hit the ground with a heavy crash.
Ao stood over him.
"Sure, I underestimated you… but you underestimated me way more."
He had sidestepped the spell at the last second, then knocked the boy out with a clean punch.
"Well, I didn't even break a sweat. Now, where's that wallet?"
Ao crouched down and fished through the boy's pockets.
"2,500 sil!? Damn, that's a lot. I'll pay you back—eventually. Later!"
Ao returned to class with a smug grin, counting the money in his hand.
But just as he rounded the corner, he locked eyes with Teacher Muyagura.
His smile vanished instantly.
She quickly looked away—Ao did the same. He shoved the money into his pocket like he'd been caught committing a crime.
It had been weeks since the incident.
And in all that time, Ao and Muyagura hadn't spoken a single word to each other.
His expression twisted into something he couldn't quite understand.
It wasn't anger.
It wasn't annoyance.
It was—
Guilt…?