[Third person POV]
In the vast, glimmering ocean waters off the coast of Japan, a large fishing vessel cruised steadily through the rolling waves. The ship, bustling with the activity of seasoned fishermen, was equipped with a mechanical crane that hauled in heavy nets from the depths below. The sea had been generous that day, as evidenced by the growing piles of wriggling fish that now covered the ship's deck. Each net they cast returned loaded with a fresh catch, and the men worked with practiced rhythm, hauling, sorting, and storing their prize.
As one of the fishermen was sorting through the latest haul, he suddenly stopped and let out a surprised shout. "Captain! You'd better come take a look at this! I don't think this came from any school of fish!"
Curious and slightly alarmed by the sudden commotion, the Captain made his way through the crowd of workers, his boots thudding against the metal floor of the ship. He brushed past his men and approached the sorting area where the sea creatures were laid out in a wide spread across a wet tarp.
What he saw made him freeze in place. Nestled among the slippery fish was an enormous, glistening egg—larger than a beach ball and covered in a sleek, faintly iridescent shell. The egg pulsed faintly, almost as if something inside it was alive.
The Captain removed his hat slowly and muttered in disbelief, "Well I'll be… Just what in god's name could've laid something like this?"
"We were hoping you could tell us, sir," one of the deckhands replied, clearly unsettled. "You think it's from some kind of unknown species?"
The Captain's eyes gleamed, his imagination already running wild. "If it is, then boys—we may have just stumbled into a fortune!" he declared triumphantly. "Forget the rest of the haul! We're turning in early!"
He slammed his hat back onto his head with renewed purpose, a wide, almost greedy grin spreading across his weathered face as he shouted out orders.
---
Meanwhile, back on land at a certain high school, Clark was carefully carrying the unconscious body of Haruna in his arms. He walked swiftly through the hallways, his expression calm. Upon reaching the infirmary, he slid open the door with his shoulder.
Inside the nurse's office, two striking women were engaged in casual conversation, their voices fading as they noticed Clark step into the room. Both were school nurses, though they looked more like models out of a high-fashion magazine than typical medical staff.
The first was Mikado Ryouko, a woman with short, reddish-brown hair that barely touched her shoulders. Her vivid green eyes stood out behind stylish glasses, and she wore a pink low-cut blouse beneath her lab coat, revealing an ample amount of cleavage. Her aura was confident and alluring, with a mischievous smile that rarely left her lips.
Sitting beside her was Queen, the other nurse, whose appearance was no less captivating. She had shoulder-length black hair with a bang that covered the right side of her face, accentuating her sharp blue eyes and the beauty mark just below the left corner of her lips. She wore a nurse's cap tilted slightly to the side, a lab coat draped loosely over her exposed shoulders, a school I.D. around her neck, and sleek thigh-high boots that clicked softly against the floor.
Their conversation ceased as they both turned their attention to Clark.
"What happened to her?" Queen asked immediately, her voice calm but laced with concern as she looked Haruna over.
Clark adjusted his grip and answered plainly, "Not exactly sure. I found her like this near the gym storage room."
Mikado tilted her head and studied him closely, while Clark avoided her gaze, inwardly groaning.
'What the hell is up with this school and aliens?' he thought grimly as Queen stepped forward and pulled back one of the room's curtains, revealing a clean, prepared bed.
"Bring her over here," Queen instructed. "I'll take care of her."
Clark walked over and gently laid Haruna down, taking care not to jostle her. His movements were precise and respectful. As he turned to leave, Queen's voice called out again.
"Hey, isn't that your school jacket she's wearing?"
Clark paused at the doorway but didn't look back. "Let her keep it. She needs it more than I do," he replied before sliding the door shut behind him and walking away.
Queen blinked, momentarily surprised by the sincerity in his voice. She leaned down and lifted the jacket slightly, only to realize that Haruna's shirt underneath was ripped open down the middle, leaving her partially exposed.
Queen's expression darkened with greater concern, and she glanced over at Mikado, who had also risen and walked toward the bed.
"You don't think…?" Queen began cautiously, her voice dropping in suspicion.
Mikado waved her hand, dismissing the thought immediately. "No way. I highly doubt it," she said with confidence. "He didn't give off that kind of vibe."
Queen looked at her sideways. "How can you be so sure?"
"For one, he brought her straight here instead of trying to hide her somewhere. Two, did you see how carefully he carried her and set her down? And don't forget the 'she needs it more than I do.'" Mikado deepened her voice in a playful mimic of Clark's tone. "He was clearly raised right"
Queen giggled behind her hand. "You've got a point. We'll know the truth once she wakes up."
"Exactly," Mikado nodded. "Until then, let's focus on making sure she's okay."
…
Clark sat slouched at his desk, elbow propped up and chin resting against his palm as he gazed absently out the window. The soft hum of the classroom, filled with the faint chatter of students and the occasional shuffle of papers, barely registered in his ears. His mind was elsewhere, clouded and distant—until the classroom door creaked open.
Haruna stepped inside, followed closely by Lala, who had accompanied her in the nurse's office. The room quieted slightly at their entrance. Haruna's usual gentle expression had returned, and though her cheeks still held a faint flush, her movements were steady and confident.
She was out of her gym uniform and dressed in her school uniform, and in her hands she carried a folded jacket—Clark's. Her eyes scanned the room before settling on him. With a small breath to steel herself, she made her way over.
Clark didn't move. His gaze remained locked on the world outside as if she weren't there at all.
"Here," Haruna said softly, holding out the jacket with both hands and a grateful smile. "Lala told me you were the one who carried me to the nurse's office. I wanted to thank you properly."
Clark shifted just enough to grab the jacket from her hands. He didn't look at her, nor did he respond beyond a disinterested hum. He tossed the jacket onto the back of his chair and returned his attention to the window as if the conversation was already over.
Haruna's smile faltered slightly, but she bowed politely nonetheless. "Still, thank you," she said before walking away and returning to her seat without another word.
Across the aisle, Itsuki turned in her seat to glance at Clark, frowning slightly at his cold behavior. She watched Haruna sit down quietly, brushing her hair behind her ear as she pulled out her books, then turned her attention back to Clark.
Noticing her gaze, Clark narrowed his eyes and asked dryly, "The hell are you staring at? Do I owe you money or something?"
Itsuki's brow twitched. "No. I was just thinking that maybe you didn't have to act like such an ass when she was just trying to thank you."
"Well," Clark said, brushing some hair out of his face, "then maybe try doing that less."
"Doing what?" she asked, irritation already simmering.
"The thinking," he said bluntly, glancing at her with a deadpan look.
A visible tick mark appeared on Itsuki's forehead as she grit her teeth. "You're such a dick…"
Clark leaned back in his chair with a scoff. "And while we're on the topic, add 'sharing your opinion' to that list too. I didn't ask for it."
Itsuki's nails dug into her desk. Her lips parted to retort, but she forced herself to breathe through her nose instead. "How someone like you managed to get engaged is seriously beyond me…"
Clark smirked, eyes lazily drifting toward her again. "Of course it's beyond you. You've probably been single your entire life."
That did it. Itsuki spun in her seat with barely restrained fury, eyes narrowed into daggers. She opened her mouth, ready to launch a verbal missile—
"You two!" the teacher barked from the front of the class, slapping a textbook down on the desk. "This isn't a social club. If you interrupt my lesson again, you'll both be meeting with serious consequences."
Itsuki stiffened like a statue, heat rushing to her face. She quickly turned back around and muttered under her breath, "Sorry…"
Clark snorted under his breath, barely containing another laugh. Itsuki didn't need to look at him to hear the amusement in his voice, and the sound alone made her blood boil. Her fingers curled tighter around her pencil until—snap—it broke clean in half, splintering with a sharp crack that went unnoticed by the teacher but not by Clark.
He smirked wider, enjoying every second of it.
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