Back in the classroom of another world, Horikita Suzune watched Ayanokōji Kiyotaka with a flash of surprise in her eyes.
The video hinted that Ayanokōji possessed the ability to handle the trio of thugs himself, yet he had chosen not to fight, purely out of a desire to avoid trouble and minimize risk.
Is that the kind of person Ayanokōji really is?
A premonition stirred in Horikita's heart. She realized she didn't understand the boy sitting next to her at all.
"Ayanokōji..."
"It's just a video," he repeated.
Or rather, was that person on the screen the true him, just in a different timeline? Was this a broadcast from the future? For now, he decided to maintain the status quo and observe what would happen next.
[ Seeing his punch hit nothing but air, the large bandit looked confused. He clearly had a grip on the boy's collar—how had he evaded the strike? Was it just luck? ]
[ "I'm truly sorry, but I really have no money on me. The only thing of even slight value is this," Ayanokōji said calmly to the menacing thugs. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the loose change he had stored earlier, handing it over. ]
[ To Ayanokōji, these coins were the least valuable things he owned. Without guaranteed food or shelter, he couldn't surrender his crackers. His phone, while currently useless, was a unique artifact in this world; he calculated it might be traded for something of immense value later. Thus, the only things he could afford to lose were these scraps of foreign paper—essentially worthless trash in this realm. ]
[ The three bandits stared at the pocket change. After a few seconds of stunned silence, they exploded in rage. "Are you mocking us, you brat?!" ]
[ Ayanokōji remained unflappable. "I apologize. This is the only thing of value I possess." Internally, he was already calculating the arrival time of a potential fifth party. If he didn't have to get his hands dirty, that would be ideal. ]
[ 'Almost here,' he thought. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and yelled at the top of his lungs: "Help! Murder! Help me!" ]
[ This sudden outburst startled the trio. They hadn't expected the boy, who had seemed so chillingly calm, to scream for help like a terrified child. "Hey, do you want to die?!" "Shut him up!" "Quick, grab him!" They lunged forward, hands outstretched to silence him. ]
"Damn... that person who shares the Witch's face!"
Standing in an alleyway and looking up at the sky, Emilia could hear the scattered, judgmental whispers from the street. She didn't let it show on her face—she was used to the prejudice—but her amethyst eyes were wide with confusion. She didn't understand why her own image was appearing in the sky, and a sense of embarrassment began to wash over her.
More importantly, she had no memory of Ayanokōji Kiyotaka. She was certain she had never met him. Yet, there she was on the screen, interacting with him.
A bold suspicion began to form in her mind. She turned her focus back to the flickering images above.
[ Ayanokōji shifted his gaze to the girl, observing her intently. As a transmigrator, he didn't understand the social stigma attached to her appearance. Instead, he analyzed her utility. 'She looks to be around my age. Based on her physique, she hasn't undergone rigorous physical training. Her clothes are distinct from the commoners—she's not a guard. A useless high-society lady, perhaps?' ]
[ The sudden appearance of the girl left the three bandits baffled. "Whose side are you on?" ]
[ "If you stop now, I can still let you go. Now, return what you stole from me!" the girl declared. Her voice was steady and full of conviction, showing no fear in the face of the criminals. ]
[ Her behavior piqued Ayanokōji's curiosity. He could see the anxiety in her eyes; she had clearly lost something incredibly important to that cat-like girl. What interested him was that this seemingly frail girl spoke with the authority of someone powerful. He could tell she wasn't bluffing. ]
"He's evaluating Lia like that?! What an insolent brat! If I ever meet this guy, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind," Puck grumbled, his voice sharp.
Emilia bit her lip. A trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Puck, it's just a vision. Besides, as someone being threatened, it's only natural for him to hope for a powerful savior."
Emilia defended the boy she hadn't met yet. "Let's keep watching. I want to see what happens next."
[ "Stolen goods?" The bandits were lost. They had no idea what she was talking about, but her resemblance to the Witch made them uneasy. ]
[ "Other things don't matter, but that item is precious. I cannot lose it. You look like decent people—please, just return it to me!" Despite her words, the girl knew these men were dangerous. Her worried gaze instinctively drifted toward Ayanokōji, who was still being held by the collar. ]
[ "That's got nothing to do with us. The thief was probably that girl who just ran past," one of the bandits said, pointing in the direction the cat-girl had fled. The silver-haired girl nodded to them, then began to walk past the four of them as if they didn't exist. ]
Watching this, the audience felt they could take the moral high ground against the half-elf.
"Seriously? She's just going to walk away?"
In Class 1-D, Kushida Kikyō spoke with a tone of mild reproach, her eyes darting toward Ayanokōji. Her subtext was clear: if she had been there, she would have helped him without hesitation.
Ayanokōji's expression didn't change. To him, Emilia's choice was perfectly logical. If he were in her position, he would also choose to ignore the situation. It had nothing to do with him, and he had no desire to get involved with strangers unless there was a clear benefit.
[ Suddenly, the girl waved her hand, and several shards of ice materialized in the air, striking the bandits. The three men were knocked to the ground simultaneously. Ayanokōji used the opening to slip away from their grasp. Though she wasn't a guard, she had effectively changed the situation. ]
[ The smallest bandit seemed to have passed out. The other two scrambled to their feet. The scrawny one pulled two daggers from behind his back, confirming Ayanokōji's suspicion: they were indeed armed. ]
[ "A magic user? So what! It's two against one—you think you can win?!" the bandits threatened. Ayanokōji took a step back, maintaining a safe distance while observing everyone. ]
[ 'Creating ice out of thin air... is that magic? It seems this world truly possesses supernatural power.' Ayanokōji watched the girl. He had no intention of intervening. He wanted to gather more information, and judging by her demeanor, these thugs were no match for her anyway. He didn't want to reveal his own capabilities or get dragged into a fight. ]
"Lia came back to save him, but he's acting like a total bystander!" Puck's distaste for Ayanokōji grew.
Emilia, however, was simply confused. Ayanokōji's way of thinking was vastly different from an average person's. In a sense, this harmless-looking boy felt as cold and precise as a machine—excessively, unnervingly rational.
[ "A Spirit Arts User?!" Seeing the girl's power, the two remaining bandits lost their nerve. After shouting a few empty threats, they grabbed their unconscious comrade and fled. ]