"If you were to choose between saving the world for obvious reasons, or destroying it for philosophical reasons, which would it be and why?"
Those words, the words that her adviser had mentioned earlier, had llingered inside Trizha's as she approached her classroom, holding a camera along with a camera stand.
People took notice of her. The camera, her movements, her actions, even the way she looked, it was unusual.
They had never seen this type of Trizha. She doesn't look like she was the time of her life, she was never looked like anything they all seen of her.
The closer she is, the more she spoke… in her mind, answering that one question.
"If I we're to choose between creation and destruction… I would destroy it. But if I can't, then I will use it… against that one man."
The door of the classroom creaked open slowly, the sunlight entering in as Wyne looked ahead of what was in front of her; Trizha Frantzes.
And she was holding a face like never before.
Wyne, immediately realizing what she is feeling, walked over to her in concern.
"Trizha? Are you okay? What did you do?"
Wyne was waiting for an answer, but Trizha ignored her and walked past her casually like she was never there.
Margaret was watching it all happen. And to her observations, Trizha's movements suggests that she will do something terrible… and turn it all into justice.
Margaret's jaw was slightly open upon that realization. She then immediately planned out on how to prevent that from happening, but froze when Wyne suddenly shouted at Trizha for not answering.
"Hey! Are you listening? Answer me!"
Hearing that shout, Trizha stopped in her tracks. She stood there in silence, before turning to Wyne with a cold look in her face that surprised her.
But that expression instantly changed into a more cheerful exterior; she calmed her facial features, her cheekbones, and then smiled softly as if she was having the time of her life.
"Nothing in particular! I was just thinking of what to do for my next video! And I'll be doing…"
She pointed her finger down, talking about the classroom itself.
"...I'll be doing it here."
Wyne was in a relief for a moment, calming down her nerves. But Margaret thought otherwise. That didn't felt friendly. At all.
"And I'll be doing… with that one man."
"A collaboration…? With who?"
"That one man."
"And who's that man?"
"Its a secret, but I'll be calling this video…"
Outside the classroom, Nomoro had just come back from tbe first floor, heading back to his classroom.
He had a worried look in his face, recalling that one time with Trizha moments ago. He thought he was too harsh for calling out on her like that
"...Demon Provocation."
A cold ran down Wyne's spine when she listened those words go unfold. Demon, and provocation… it could only mean one thing.
"Trizha, are you serious? On his first day??"
"You wouldn't understand."
Trizha then turned around and begsn placing and preparing her recording items while speaking to Wyne.
"Now how about you sit down and watch? You won't understand a thing until you see it. That's what you are."
Wyne's eyes widened a little at that insult. But that doesn't matter right now. What matters is whatever recklessness Trizha is doing.
"What did he even do to you?"
"Nothing much."
She then picked her camera and placed it into the stand, examining it.
"Let's just say that… I'm just going to return the favor—with the world that is."
She smirked, and Wyne clenched her fists.
"You're being unreasonable."
"Unreasonable? There's nothing unreasonable about this—don't you understand?"
She then turned and walked up to Wyne, stopping in front of her staring deeply into her eyes.
"I'm just trying to get the demon to leave. What's unreasonable about that?"
"This isn't about him, it's about you."
Trizha paused hearing that, then continued.
"...I think you should really go sit down, you know that?"
"Fine. Don't meddle me in your affairs."
Wyne scoffed as she turned to leave, the latter Trizha staring watched her leave and blend in to the crowd carelessly.
The students who bore witness of this confrontation wouldn't be able to understand anything that was happening. The only thing they all could was stand watch.
Some glared at Wyne for interrupting Trizha. After all, those are the kind of people who would admire their idols enough to be blinded of what they can do.
As for Margaret, a tear of sweat slid down from her face. The tension was very clear to her—it's palpable. She knew she should've interfered and maybe convince Trizha otherwise.
In fact, she already had a plan in case she had to do it herself, but Wyne suddenly appeared behind her and grabbed her shoulders from behind.
Her grip was convincing, emotionally telling Margaret to stay put in her position. Margaret wants to deny it because she knew what was going to happen.
But Wyne refuses to let her go, and to tell that to her is by tightening her grip.
And that tightened grip was enough to convince Margaret that what Trizha is about to do… is all simply her decisions. Decisions… that will consequence what happens to her next.
Outside the classroom, students gathered around, already hearing the earlier confrontation. Though Nomoro is there and tries to get in while being confused about what was happening.
He thought that he'd struggle getting into the classroom seeing that people gathered and blocked the entrance to the classroom.
But the moment he tried to blend in, the students felt his presence and they immediately distanced or scattered themselves away from him.
Nomoro was startled and baffled at their actions, but he understood them well enough to say nothing—leaving with a nod and a muttered "thanks" as he stepped in towards the classroom.
But there was one thing he didn't understand, and that is… that he is the main character in the 'show' that Izha is about to begin.
He entered the classroom in the next second, the cold breeze formed by the AC inside escaped through the wide open door. He looked around, and saw that everyone was staring at him.
It was strange and a confusing sight. Why were they staring at him like that? He thought.
"Greetings, Demon of Nine Years Ago!"
A voice suddenly broke the silence Nomoro thought wouldn't stay. The voice he heard was full of sarcasm and hatred, and he knew it was directed at him.
But when he turned his head to see who it was, he was shocked—Trizha said those words to him. He was left there speechless, as even more students gathered around, invested in this new confrontation.
"You know, I'm actually surprised you have the guts to sign yourself into this school and call yourself one of us. Give him a round of applause!!"
She shouted, her voice laced with venom as she purposely clapped, and so were the many others.
Wyne and Margaret stood there uncomfortably watching the scenery unfold.
"'I still expect you all courtesy," said by my sympathetic adviser when this guy came in, by the way!" She clapped even harder. "Courtesy? We should give someone like YOU courtesy? My friends, a demon can't do basic courtesy, can they?"
People clapped even more, some whistling in amusement while others booed at Nomoro's entire existence in this school.
"The Nomoro Ketatsuki, poor guy. Everyone already hates you, and yet, you still hope for redemption."
Knowing her camera was on, she left her position and circled around Nomoro, as he just stood there, listening.
"If you hope for redemption, then here's my suggestion,"
She then stopped in front of Nomoro, leaning into his face with false cheerfulness.
"...resign yourself from this school, and get out of here, Demon."
"Oooooohhhhh!!!" They all clapped and made fun of Nomoro after Trizha said that. And he just stood there, staring at Trizha's eyes, his expression clear that he was getting uncomfortable.
And to her, she realized that he was a tough young man; he was unfazed by her insults. And so she decided to go farther as she pushed herself away from his face.
"I know, I know. That look in your eye? You think I'm being too cruel for your good. You're probably thinking that whatever I'm doing is ridiculous. Immature, if not!
She chuckled to herself, walking back to her Camera, her hips swaying with the wind.
"But I have a justified reason for that—and that is… your profile itself." She said as she turned back to Nomoro, smiling at him. "You killed everyone during a school shooting incident, didn't you? Tell me, what's the chances that you'd do it again? In this school!"
"YEAH!" Everyone shouted in unison.
"You're just as free as anyone else, so what's stopping you from potentially destroying this entire building into dust and killing us all off?!"
"YEAH!" They shouted once again.
"If you believe in yourself and you want us to trust you that you won't, how about you prove that to us right now and resign. It's not that hard! Not only will resignation prove you right in your promises, it will also prevent us from getting killed off by someone like you!"
"YEAH!" Once more.
"Here's a reality check; you have no place in this school. Not here, not anywhere, not around us. Not even those who pity you enough to blindly let themselves help you."
"YEAH!"
"I believe that it is TIME that we prevent that trope of 'letting things go on and about' and kick them away from where they belong. What do you say everyone?!"
"YEEAAAAHHH!! KICK HIM OFF!"
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
"YOU DON'T BELONG HERE, DEMON!"
"DEMON! DEMON! DEMON! DEMON! DEMON! DEMON! DEMON! DEMON!"
They all repeated the word 'demon' without stopping themselves. They were all hyped up by Trizha, who's swinging her arms for them to keep going.
This is indeed a cruel sight to behold, to witness, and for those who understand the true gravity of this situation.
People who love to rebel against all evil raised their fist and swung it into the air as they screamed the name 'Demon' at Nomoro's face.
But that wasn't all; some were even brave enough to step in and push Nomoro around, provoking them over and over again.
They were calling him names, cursing at his presence, humiliating him without fail.
But he… just stood there, unfazed.
His eyes were as calm as an untouched lake. He stands unmoving, like a statue. And his face was as soft and relaxed as a pillow.
He never dared to move, not in the hands of the injustice before him.
No one noticed how he felt. No one noticed he didn't fight back. No one in that room noticed that he was enduring it all. And no one… understood him more than himself.
But there was only one person who saw him, who noticed him. The only person who truly saw what he was doing in that position;
Their shoulders went lump.
They clapped in amusement.
They didn't even continue speaking out to insult this man before them.
They were left speechless.
And they had… a look of understanding. Because from that moment, they found themselves… connecting to the Demon of Nine Years Ago.
They felt his feelings.
They felt his endurance.
They felt the weight he held.
They felt everything.
It wasn't Wyne, a person with emotional intelligence.
It wasn't even Margaret, a person who was skillfully observant enough to notice what was up ahead.
It wasn't anyone.
It was…
…Trizha Frantzes herself.
The moment everyone started insulting Nomoro's name, Trizha instantly felt him. It was an abrupt feeling. A feeling… that made herself aware of what she was doing to him.
Aware of what she was doing… to a man who did nothing wrong with her.
The students who were enjoying themselves, soon noticed that silence these two bore. They began to lower their volumes and they turned to Trizha, who was suddenly standing there speechless. Soon, the room fell silent.
A moment ago, she was insulting Nomoro along with the others. And now, she has silenced herself.
But then…
"I have a name."
Someone broke the silence.
"And it's not 'Demon'."
It was that one man. And be made one step forward confidently towards Trizha, looking at her deep into her eyes.
"...My name… is Nomoro Ketatsuki."
After that, the world fell silent once again. No one dared to let out another word.
"I know I don't have the right to speak… I know that too well because I know that you all don't appreciate me enough to allow me to do such a trivial matter. But I do hope…"
He paused, and then he turned around, facing the exit of the classroom.
"...that you all should think… if your own words hold any right."
And so, he left the classroom. Trizha's eyes followed his back, watching him disappear.
She may look like she was stunned, but her heart itself was beating fast.
She turned to her camera, and finished recording. Everyone stared at her when she did that, silently.
Her movements were as she picked up her camera and its stand. After a moment, she turned back to the crowd… with a cheerful smile on her face.
"And… that's all for this video! Thank you all for your participation!"
Hearing that, everyone sighed in relief as they walked out of the classroom.
"Oh, that was scripted? Good lord!"
"That was way too emotional."
"Indeed, that was some reality check back at us…"
"I almost felt bad, damn it…"
As everyone made their leave, Wyne and Margaret just stood there without saying a word. They watched the entire thing happen, and even so understand full well where it led.
They watched Trizha cheerfully prepare herself to leave. After all, it's a long day, and the school itself was in its closing quarters.
"Idiot."
Wyne muttered, as she pulled Margaret out if the classroom, leaving Trizha alone in the classroom.
And Trizha… when everyone was gone, she stood there menacingly. She then extended her arm and reached out to her camera, her intentions directly just to check if there were any problems with the video known as "Demon Provocation".
She watched every clip, every second of it. She saw herself, she heard herself. And the whole time, Nomoro stood there, willing to endure the arrows that she fired.
The more her eyes witnessed her own actions, the more she began to feel disdain… towards herself.
"This… this is me?" She said to herself. "That's… that can't be me, right?" she mumbled.
Her hands began to shake, her grip unto the camera tightening every second. She gritted her teeth, as she watched just how ridiculously cruel she looks in this video.
For the first time, she saw herself. From the countless videos she made through the lens that she owns, she saw herself.
"No… No!"
Alas, she threw her camera away, crashing into the wall, breaking into pieces as Trizha ran into a corner and curled herself legs and hugged them, tears falling down from her eyes profusely.
She refuses to believe that what she saw… was her.
But that is simply the result… of her consequences.