(Narration)
The Tokyo Institution of Exorcists stood tall.
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Massive.
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Like a fortress disguised as a school.
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Stone walls.
Wide grounds.
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A place where two worlds collided—
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Education…
And death.
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The Rooftop
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A figure stood above.
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Still.
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Wrapped in bandages.
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Her eyes fixed on the sky.
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"…You're late…"
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The wind brushed past her.
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As if carrying a presence.
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She waited.
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Arrival
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A sudden distortion.
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Air shifted.
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And—
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Adryn appeared.
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Along with Haru.
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Haru stumbled slightly.
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"…We're here?"
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He looked up.
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And froze.
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"…This is… a school?"
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Adryn walked forward casually.
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"Not just a school."
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A pause.
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"Your new battlefield."
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On the Way
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Haru followed him.
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Still processing everything.
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"…Adryn…"
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"…Sensei."
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Adryn smirked slightly.
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"Good. You're learning."
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Haru hesitated.
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"…What exactly is your power?"
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Adryn stopped.
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Then glanced back.
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"…You really want to know?"
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Haru nodded.
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"…Yeah."
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A brief silence.
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Then—
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"I have a contract…"
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"…with the Limitless Devil."
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Haru's eyes widened.
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"…Limitless…?"
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Adryn continued walking.
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"I can borrow five seconds…"
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"…from my remaining lifespan."
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A pause.
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"And place it into the present."
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Haru frowned.
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"…What does that even mean?"
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Adryn looked ahead.
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"It means…"
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"I can see what happens next."
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"And fight…"
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"As if I've already experienced it."
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Silence.
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Haru stopped walking.
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"…That's… broken."
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Adryn shrugged.
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"It's useful."
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A pause.
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"And that's not all."
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He raised his hand slightly.
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"I can condense energy…"
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"…into a sphere."
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"…or manipulate air pressure."
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Haru remembered—
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The devil.
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Its head—
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Crushed.
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"…You killed that thing…"
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"…with just your hand…"
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Adryn glanced at him.
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"Pressure."
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"Not strength."
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Haru stared.
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"…That's insane…"
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A pause.
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Then something clicked.
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"…Wait…"
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"…You said contract…"
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"…Do you have more than one?"
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Adryn didn't stop walking.
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"…Yeah."
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Haru froze again.
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"…What?!"
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Adryn spoke casually.
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"Multiple contracts aren't rare."
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"It depends on how much energy your body can handle."
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Haru tried to process it.
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"…So… there are others?"
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Adryn nodded.
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"Yeah."
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A pause.
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"Trian."
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"And…"
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"…a couple more."
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His tone changed slightly.
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"…You'll meet them later."
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Haru felt it.
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Something deeper.
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Something dangerous.
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A New Role
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Adryn suddenly stopped.
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Then turned to Haru.
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"…By the way—"
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"You're my student now."
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Haru blinked.
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"…Student?"
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Adryn smirked.
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"Call me Adryn Sensei."
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A pause.
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"…You're my first one."
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Silence.
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Haru didn't know why—
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But that felt…
Important.
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"…Okay… Sensei."
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The Gate
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They reached the entrance.
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Haru's eyes lit up.
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"…It's huge…"
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Excitement.
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Curiosity.
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A new beginning—
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"…STOP RIGHT THERE, FOOLS."
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The voice cut through everything.
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Sharp.
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Cold.
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Haru flinched.
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"…What—?!"
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A figure appeared in front of them.
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Bandages.
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Eyes sharp enough to cut.
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Haru immediately stepped back—
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And hid behind Adryn.
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"…S-Sensei…"
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Adryn sighed.
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"…Calm down."
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Then looked at her.
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"…Sorry."
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A pause.
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"Missed your daily lessons again."
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Silence.
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Her gaze didn't soften.
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Not even a little.
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Adryn continued—
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"…And I brought you something."
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He moved slightly.
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Revealing Haru.
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"…Your new classmate."
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Silence.
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Haru blinked.
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"…Classmate…?"
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His mind froze.
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"…Wait…"
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"…I thought I came here to hunt devils—"
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Adryn cut him off.
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"You're still a high schooler."
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A pause.
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"You study."
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"You fight."
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"You survive."
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Haru stared.
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"…You're serious…?"
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Adryn pointed at the bandaged girl.
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"She's like you."
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"…Contract at a young age."
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"…Rare."
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The girl looked at Haru.
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Long.
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Judging.
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"…He looks weak."
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Haru froze.
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"…W-What?!"
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Adryn chuckled.
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"Fix that."
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The Classroom
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They walked inside.
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Haru still confused.
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Still processing.
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Still trying to understand—
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School?
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Exorcists?
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Devils?
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All at once.
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They reached a classroom.
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Adryn opened the door.
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And—
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Chaos.
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"YOU'RE LATE AGAIN, ADRYN!"
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"THREE DAYS!"
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"THREE DAYS YOU DISAPPEARED!"
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"DO YOU EVEN CARE?!"
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Voices filled the room.
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Angry.
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Loud.
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Alive.
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Adryn scratched his head.
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"…My bad."
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No guilt.
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No shame.
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Just casual.
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"…Had work."
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"THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE!"
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Haru stood there.
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Stunned.
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"…This is… insane…"
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Adryn stepped forward.
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Then gestured toward Haru.
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"New student."
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Silence.
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The room paused.
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All eyes—
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On him.
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"…Name?"
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Haru hesitated.
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Then—
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"…Haru."
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A pause.
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The class stared.
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Some curious.
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Some annoyed.
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Some interested.
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Adryn smiled slightly.
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"…Take care of him."
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A new chapter—
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Had just begun.