Chapter 52
Title: Curiosity
The bell rang.
Students slowly began leaving the classroom.
But a small group stayed behind.
Ashir:
"Bro… that was not a normal history class."
Saim:
"Yeah, I thought it'd be boring, but…"
Ali:
"…it actually felt serious."
MrLapis quietly packed his bag.
Senpai walked toward him, slightly hesitant.
Senpai:
"Um… MrLapis?"
MrLapis stopped.
MrLapis:
"Yes?"
Senpai:
"That answer you gave…"
"…how do you even think like that?"
MrLapis looked at him calmly.
MrLapis:
"I just see things differently."
Before Senpai could respond—
Nagatoro (walking in):
"Differently? That's one way to say it."
She stepped closer, arms crossed.
Nagatoro:
"You sounded like a teacher, not a student."
MrLapis:
"And you sound like you don't believe it."
Nagatoro smirked.
Nagatoro:
"I don't."
Silence.
Nagatoro:
"You're telling me people just believed in something… and boom, a whole country exists?"
MrLapis:
"It wasn't that simple."
Nagatoro:
"Then explain it simply."
The room got quiet again.
Even Ashir and Saim stopped talking.
MrLapis adjusted his bag.
MrLapis:
"They believed…"
"…they struggled…"
"…and they didn't stop."
Nagatoro stared at him.
Nagatoro:
"That still sounds unrealistic."
MrLapis:
"It sounds unrealistic until it happens."
Senpai slowly nodded.
Senpai:
"I think I get it a little…"
Nagatoro looked at him.
Nagatoro:
"Senpai, you understand this?"
Senpai (awkward smile):
"Not fully… but I want to."
Nagatoro turned back to MrLapis.
Nagatoro:
"So you're saying…"
"…if someone believes enough…"
"…they can change reality?"
MrLapis paused for a second.
MrLapis:
"If they act on that belief… yes."
Silence.
Ashir whispered:
Ashir:
"Bro… why does this feel like more than history?"
Saim:
"Because it is…"
Nagatoro sighed lightly.
Nagatoro:
"You're annoying."
Senpai blinked.
Senpai:
"Huh?"
Nagatoro (smirking):
"You give answers that make people think too much."
MrLapis turned toward the door.
MrLapis:
"Thinking is not a bad thing."
He started walking out.
Nagatoro watched him go.
Nagatoro:
"…He didn't even react."
Senpai smiled slightly.
Senpai:
"That's just how he is."
Nagatoro looked at the board again:
"712 – 2026"
Nagatoro (quietly):
"…There's more to him."
She turned toward the door.
Nagatoro:
"Senpai."
Senpai:
"Yes?"
Nagatoro:
"Next time…"
She smirked.
"…we're not letting him leave so easily."
Chapter 53
Title: You Didn't Tell Us
Scene:
Tuition Center – Evening, quiet room, a few desks, soft fan noise
MrLapis sitting, writing.
His friends around him.
System: Environment – calm
Conversation probability – LOW
Friend 1 (casual 😏):
"…So."
Pause.
"…You gonna tell us or not?"
MrLapis (without looking up 😐):
"No."
Friend 2 (grinning 😈):
"That's a yes."
MrLapis stops writing.
Slowly looks up.
MrLapis:
"You're assuming."
Friend 1:
"We're not."
Pause.
"…We know."
Silence.
System: Topic shift – detected
Focus – MrLapis
MrLapis (calm):
"Know what?"
Friend 2 leans forward.
Friend 2:
"That there's a girl…"
Pause.
"…who teases you. A lot."
Silence.
MrLapis doesn't react immediately.
Just looks at them.
System: Micro reaction – detected
State – disrupted (minor)
Friend 1 (smirking):
"Didn't expect that, huh?"
MrLapis:
"Source?"
Friend 2:
"Kazehaya."
Pause.
Friend 1:
"She's kind of famous there now."
MrLapis (slight frown):
"…That's inefficient."
Friend 2 laughs.
Friend 2:
"So it's true."
MrLapis:
"You talk too much."
Friend 1:
"You hide too much."
Silence.
Friend 2 (curious 😏):
"So what's her deal?"
MrLapis:
"Irrelevant."
Friend 1:
"Not to us."
Pause.
"…We want to meet her."
Silence.
System: Decision pressure – rising
MrLapis looks at them.
MrLapis:
"No."
Friend 2:
"Why not?"
MrLapis:
"Unnecessary."
Friend 1 (smirking):
"Or risky?"
Pause.
MrLapis:
"…Both."
Friend 2:
"That makes it interesting."
Friend 1:
"Exactly."
Silence.
System: Curiosity – escalating
Friend 2:
"Come on."
Pause.
"…Take us to her."
MrLapis looks down at his pen.
Then puts it down.
System: Decision – forming
MrLapis (calm):
"You're serious."
Friend 1:
"Yes."
Friend 2:
"Very."
Pause.
MrLapis stands up.
System: Action – initiated
Friend 1 (grinning):
"There it is."
MrLapis raises his hand.
Friend 2 (eyes widen 😳):
"Wait—are you—"
System: Spatial distortion – START
Portal formation – INITIATED
The air bends.
Light cracks open.
A portal forms.
Friend 1 (impressed 😏):
"…Still doing this casually."
Friend 2:
"This never gets normal…"
MrLapis (calm):
"Kazehaya High School."
System: Destination locked
Friend 1:
"So she's there right now?"
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Pause.
Friend 2 (smirking 😈):
"Perfect."
MrLapis steps toward the portal.
Stops for a second.
System: Hesitation – minimal
Friend 1 notices.
Friend 1 (low 😏):
"…You're actually unsure."
MrLapis:
"No."
Pause.
"…Just considering outcomes."
Friend 2:
"And?"
MrLapis looks at the portal.
MrLapis (quiet 😐):
"…Unpredictable."
Friend 1 laughs.
Friend 1:
"Even better."
They step closer.
Friend 2:
"Let's meet her."
MrLapis walks forward.
MrLapis:
"Stay behind me."
Friend 1:
"Why?"
MrLapis:
"…You'll understand."
They step into the portal.
System: Transfer – ACTIVE
Scene Shift:
Kazehaya High School – Corridor, students moving
System: Location confirmed – Kazehaya High School
Target presence – DETECTED
MrLapis steps out first.
Friends behind him.
Friend 2 (looking around 😏):
"…So this is where she is."
Friend 1 (smirking):
"Interesting."
MrLapis looks ahead.
Eyes steady.
System: Target approaching
Footsteps.
A familiar voice—
Nagatoro (off-screen 😈):
"…You came."
Silence.
Friend 1 smiles.
Friend 1 (low):
"…So that's her."
MrLapis doesn't respond.
System: Interaction – imminent
Unpredictability – HIGH
Title: So You're That Girl
Scene:
Kazehaya High School – Corridor, students passing
MrLapis standing.
Friends behind him.
Nagatoro walking closer.
Senpai just behind her.
System: Interaction – START
Nagatoro:
"…You actually came."
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Nagatoro looks at the group behind him.
Nagatoro:
"…And you brought people."
Friend 1:
"We were curious."
Friend 2:
"Very."
Pause.
Friend 1 steps forward slightly.
Friend 1:
"So you're the one."
Nagatoro:
"The one what?"
Friend 2:
"The girl who keeps teasing him."
Silence.
Senpai:
"…Why say it like that…"
Nagatoro smirks.
Nagatoro:
"Oh? That obvious?"
Friend 1:
"Extremely."
MrLapis:
"Focus."
Nagatoro ignores him.
Steps closer.
Nagatoro:
"So… what did he tell you about me?"
Friend 2:
"Nothing."
Pause.
Nagatoro:
"…Nothing?"
Friend 1:
"That's why we came."
Nagatoro glances at MrLapis.
Nagatoro:
"You really said nothing?"
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Nagatoro laughs softly.
Nagatoro:
"…Wow."
System: Tension – light
Friend 2:
"He talks more now."
Nagatoro:
"He does."
MrLapis:
"No."
Nagatoro:
"Liar."
Senpai:
"…This is getting weird…"
Scene:
Students nearby start watching.
System: Attention – increasing
Nagatoro circles slightly, observing them.
Nagatoro:
"So what now?"
Friend 1:
"Now we see."
Nagatoro:
"See what?"
Friend 2:
"If it's real."
Pause.
Nagatoro:
"What is?"
Friend 1:
"That you actually affect him."
Silence.
Nagatoro's smile changes slightly.
Nagatoro:
"…And?"
Friend 2:
"You do."
MrLapis:
"Enough."
System: Control shift – MrLapis
Nagatoro looks at him.
Nagatoro:
"You're stopping this?"
MrLapis:
"No."
Pause.
"…Setting limits."
Friend 1 smirks.
Friend 1:
"Since when?"
MrLapis:
"Now."
Scene:
Short silence.
Senpai looks between everyone.
Senpai:
"…Can we not fight here…"
Nagatoro exhales.
Nagatoro:
"Relax. I'm not done yet."
She looks at Friend 1 directly.
Nagatoro:
"You wanted to see?"
Pause.
"…Watch properly."
System: Escalation – START
Friend 2:
"This should be good."
Nagatoro suddenly steps closer to MrLapis.
Closer than usual.
Senpai freezes.
Friend 1 raises eyebrow.
Nagatoro (low):
"Still calm?"
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Nagatoro:
"Always?"
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Pause.
Nagatoro smirks.
Nagatoro:
"…We'll fix that."
System: Emotional pressure – applied
MrLapis doesn't react.
Friend 1:
"…Yeah. She's a problem."
Friend 2:
"Now I get it."
Scene:
Bell rings.
Students begin moving again.
System: Time shift – class change
Nagatoro steps back.
Nagatoro:
"…This isn't over."
MrLapis:
"I know."
Nagatoro turns and walks.
Senpai follows quickly.
Senpai:
"…We're definitely not surviving this…"
Scene:
Friends beside MrLapis.
Friend 1:
"You're managing this?"
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Friend 2:
"You sure?"
Pause.
MrLapis looks ahead.
MrLapis:
"No."