Chapter 2
The classroom buzzed with whispers. Everyone was still trying to process the arrival of Hikari. He moved with calm confidence, as if he owned the entire room without even trying. It was not arrogance, exactly. It was presence. The kind of presence that made people stop talking and watch without realizing it. The truth was, Hikari had a reputation that came with his family. He was the son of one of the biggest gang leaders in the area, a fact that made him known even before he stepped into the classroom.
Some students admired him. Others were afraid. Yet Hikari was strange. He carried no scars, no signs of violence, and no obvious threatening demeanor. He was handsome, with sharp features and dark eyes that seemed to see through everyone. Calm, quiet, and deliberate, he carried an air of authority that did not need to be spoken.
He walked toward an empty chair with measured steps. The chatter in the room died down, eyes following him. Souta felt a twinge of tension in his stomach, as if the air had suddenly thickened. Hikari stopped beside a desk near him, looking in his direction. He spoke, voice smooth and confident, as if testing the waters of this new environment.
"Hello, I am Hikari. Nice to meet you," he said, offering a faint, polite smile and gesturing toward the seat next to Souta.
Souta glanced at the chair, caught between curiosity and caution. "Sure," he replied, trying to sound casual even though his heart was beating faster than normal.
Just as Hikari was about to sit, Souta spoke again. "Well, that seat is taken," he said, shrugging lightly.
Hikari tilted his head slightly, maintaining his calm expression. "Oh, he is not here? I am sorry," he said smoothly, as though it were a minor misunderstanding. He smiled faintly, shrugging, and seemed ready to step back without any ill will.
Before the tension could dissipate, the classroom door slammed open. "Sorry I am late!" shouted a familiar voice.
Raiden Ryou, Souta's best friend, strode in with his usual casual air. He brushed back his hair and carried his bag loosely over one shoulder. His confident and somewhat unusual demeanor drew glances from several classmates.
"Ryou, you are really late," Souta said, raising an eyebrow.
"Traffic," Ryou replied casually with a grin, sliding into his seat as though nothing unusual had happened. He did not even look flustered, as if being late was perfectly normal for him.
Hikari's dark eyes followed him silently, observant and precise. "What?" Ryou asked, noticing Hikari's stare.
"Nothing," Hikari said simply, turning his attention elsewhere. He finally chose a seat across the room, not making a scene but leaving an odd tension lingering in the air.
The murmurs returned, but they were quieter now. Even the teacher seemed to sense the shift, calling the class to attention. The dynamic between the new student, Hikari, Ryou, and Souta created a subtle but undeniable energy. It made everything feel more serious, even mundane activities like opening textbooks or tapping pens on desks seemed heightened.
Soon, the morning classes passed. The cafeteria was loud, filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the constant clatter of trays and silverware. Souta sat at a table, quietly observing the chaos around him. He barely had time to sit before Masaki appeared beside him, leaning down with a smirk.
"Damn. I thought you were dead," Masaki said in a low voice, scanning the room before he continued.
"What are you talking about?" Souta asked, confused.
"That guy. Hikari. He is serious trouble," Masaki said. His eyes flicked toward the entrance, as if confirming that the boy was still there. "I saw his father once during a shooting in the area. You do not want to get involved with him. Just stay away, okay?"
Souta nodded silently. "Yeah, I get it."
Masaki leaned back in his chair and laughed, shaking his head. "Hahaha. I just wanted to warn you. I do not want to attend your funeral this early." The humor eased some of the tension, and Souta allowed himself a small smile, though unease still clung to him.
After lunch, the classes continued. Everything seemed normal on the surface, but Souta could not shake the strange feeling crawling along his spine. Sometimes, when he glanced around, he noticed Hikari watching him. Sometimes it was Raiden. Their expressions were calm but focused, as though testing limits without saying a word.
The rest of the day passed without major incident. Lectures ended. Chairs scraped against the floor. Students packed their bags. The bell rang, signaling the end of the day.
Stepping outside the school gates, Souta felt the street sounds more intense than usual. The air felt heavier, the open space too exposed. Unease crawled through him like a slow, insistent pulse. He pulled out his phone and tried calling his father.
Ring. No answer.
He tried again. Ring. Still nothing.
"Damn," Souta muttered, slipping the phone back into his pocket. For the first time that day, he felt truly uneasy. The world suddenly seemed more unpredictable, and shadows felt a little longer than usual.
Elsewhere, far from the school, the air was cold and heavy. Inside a massive underground facility, steel walls reflected faint blue lights. Machines hummed softly. Scientists moved in calculated motions around a central containment chamber.
Inside, something glowed.
Renjiro Ishikawa stood frozen, staring at the structure displayed on the screens. It was DNA unlike anything he had ever studied. Patterns formed that should have been impossible. Even the most advanced algorithms and software could not fully decode it.
"This is impossible," muttered one of the researchers. His voice was barely audible over the hum of machinery.
From the shadows, a calm voice responded. "Congratulations, Mr. Ishikawa. You and your team have truly impressed me."
Renjiro turned, unease pressing into his chest. "Y yes. Thank you, Mr. Cane," he stammered.
The man stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. "It is Doctor Cane."
"My apologies," Renjiro replied quickly, bowing slightly.
Doctor Cane placed his hand on the containment glass, eyes glinting with fascination. "This DNA is new. Not human. Not animal. It resembles something... extraterrestrial. A species we have never encountered. And it is powerful."
Suddenly, another voice rang out. "Whose phone is ringing?"
A tall, composed man stepped forward, holding a vibrating phone. Renjiro's blood ran cold.
"That is mine," he said quickly. "It is my son."
The man nodded calmly, returning the phone. "No need to apologize."
Renjiro stiffened. "S sorry, Mr. Victor."
Doctor Cane frowned slightly. "Hmm. What brings you here, Mr. Victor?"
Victor glanced at the glowing chamber. "I need you to move. We have another discovery, and I need your team. Immediately."
Doctor Cane inclined his head. "Of course, sir. No problem."
Victor turned and walked back into the shadows, his presence commanding even without words. "Make sure there are no disturbances," he instructed.
Renjiro nodded silently, pocketing his phone.
Doctor Cane clapped his hands, drawing the attention of the scientists. "All right, everyone. Pause your current work. We have a new project."
The room fell silent as eyes turned toward the containment chamber, glimmering with an ominous light.
To be continued...