I opened my eyes.
"Alright..."
Time to go back to school.
I let out a small sigh as I got out of bed.
If it weren't for the two siblings... and the Purple Entity...
I probably would have flooded the school again just for fun.
But things had changed.
Now I had far more important priorities.
I exhaled slowly.
"Alright..."
Vivian and Brittany have to shine.
This will be their first mission.
I trusted them.
Besides, they weren't alone.
Ana and Madeleine had helped them prepare a plan.
At the very least, those two had much more experience dealing with guys.
I still remembered perfectly what Ana had told me that day at the café.
And what I overheard while she was talking with her friends.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"Those were the days..."
I shook my head.
It was better to leave that matter behind.
After all...
I had already gotten my revenge.
Then something else came to mind.
"Ah..."
The football team.
Today was the first day.
I had to show up.
I didn't know much about American football.
But before joining, I had watched several games and a few videos to learn the basic rules.
The rest...
I'd learn as I went.
With my physical abilities and my magic...
Adapting wouldn't be a problem.
---
When I arrived at school, everything seemed to have returned to normal.
Students walked through the hallways as if nothing had happened over the past few days.
They chatted.
They laughed.
They complained that the weekend had ended far too quickly.
It was strange.
While they were living completely ordinary lives...
I was hunting supernatural entities.
My eyes swept across the courtyard.
I spotted Vivian and Brittany talking near the gymnasium.
Both of them were wearing the cheerleading team's uniform.
Vivian, as the captain.
Brittany, as the vice-captain.
A few meters away stood Sarra and Susan.
The twin sisters seemed to be talking with the cheerleading coach.
I had no idea what they were discussing.
And honestly...
I didn't care enough to find out.
As long as they didn't cause any trouble...
Everything was fine.
"Ryan!"
I turned my head.
Madison was walking toward me with Chloe beside her.
Both of them were smiling.
"Good morning."
"Hi."
"How were your days off?"
The two exchanged a glance before answering.
"Pretty good."
"We got plenty of rest."
"What about you?"
I smiled calmly.
"It was great."
Of course...
That was only the short version.
I wasn't about to tell them that I had destroyed two corpses being controlled by an unknown entity.
That was one detail I could safely leave out.
"Ryan."
"You're joining the football team today, right?" Madison asked.
I nodded.
"Yeah."
"It officially starts today."
Madison smiled.
"Then I'll be cheering for you from the stands."
"We both will," Chloe added with a smile.
"Thanks."
The two of them looked genuinely excited.
It was nice to have people cheering you on.
Even if they still had no idea who I really was.
---
Classes began.
As usual...
I didn't pay much attention.
The teacher explained a topic I already knew.
The other students took notes.
I simply stared out the window.
How boring...
After everything I'd been through lately...
An ordinary class felt endless.
Finally...
The bell rang.
"About time."
I packed my things and headed toward the football field.
Quite a few students had gathered there.
Some looked nervous.
Others talked excitedly.
Everyone wanted to make the team.
Among them, I recognized a familiar face.
Victor.
My friend.
When our eyes met...
I raised a hand to greet him.
"Hey."
Victor looked at me for a few seconds.
Then he smiled confidently.
He clenched his fist.
As if silently challenging me.
I couldn't help but smile.
"So you're motivated..."
Perfect.
Competition always made things more interesting.
At that moment, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward.
A whistle hung around his neck, and he wore a cap bearing the school's emblem.
It was the coach.
His gaze swept across each and every hopeful player.
The murmuring stopped almost instantly.
"Alright, boys."
His voice was firm and commanding.
"If you're here, it's because you believe you have what it takes to be part of this team."
He paused briefly.
"Today we'll find out if that's true."
Silence fell over the field.
Some swallowed nervously.
Others stretched their arms, trying to hide their anxiety.
I simply looked at the coach with calm eyes.
This wasn't all that different from preparing for a battle.
Except this time...
The enemy wasn't a monster.
It was a football.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"Let the game begin."