After Arou left his second dimension, Zata reset the story.
Now, the focus shifted to Airi.
Airi's parents and her older sister, Chika, had passed away in an accident. Airi now lived alone in their house.
That morning, she left for school. However, she often found herself spacing out along the way.
When she arrived at school, she entered Class 2-C and took her seat. No one ever approached her to talk. Even when it came to school assignments, she always had to do them by herself.
The teacher entered the classroom.
"Good morning, everyone," the teacher greeted.
"Good morning, Sir," all the students replied in unison.
"Today, we're going to study English. Open your books to page 67 and complete the exercises," the teacher instructed.
Airi took out her book.
"Write the answers in your notebooks," the teacher continued.
"Okay..." the students replied.
"That's all. During break time, submit your work to the office. I have something to take care of, so don't make too much noise," the teacher said before leaving the classroom.
As soon as the teacher left, three girls approached Airi and immediately ordered her to do their assignments.
They were Hana, Luna, and Rina.
"Hey, idiot. Do our assignments too, okay?" Hana said as she stared at Airi.
"Hmm..." Airi replied indifferently before starting to do their assignments.
Without them realizing it, the principal was watching from the classroom window.
When break time came, Airi had already finished all three of their assignments.
The three girls approached her again.
"Hey, are you done?" Hana asked.
"Yeah," Airi replied briefly.
"Wow, you're pretty fast," Luna commented.
Airi didn't answer. She simply stood up and walked toward the office to submit her assignment.
"Sir, here's my English assignment," Airi said when she arrived at the office.
"Yes," the teacher replied.
"I'll go back to class now, Sir," Airi added.
"Wait a moment," the principal said from his desk.
"Is there something wrong, Sir?" Airi asked.
"Airi, I'd like to talk to you for a moment," the principal said, motioning for her to sit beside him.
Airi sat down and looked at the principal.
"Why were you doing your friends' assignments earlier?" the principal asked.
"Huh? You knew?" Airi replied in surprise.
"I saw it earlier," the principal answered.
"Actually, they've been making me do all their assignments for a long time. Even during exams, they always ask me for the answers," Airi explained.
"Why do you do them?" the principal asked.
"If I don't, they'll bully me again," Airi said quietly.
"Again? Have they bullied you before?" the principal asked.
"Many times. Ever since orientation until now, in second year," Airi replied.
"Why don't you fight back?" the principal asked.
"There's no point," Airi answered flatly.
"No point? Why?" the principal asked.
"If I fight back, they'll bully me even worse," Airi replied.
"Then why didn't you report them to your teachers?" the principal asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm scared, Sir. If I report them, they'll bully me even more," Airi answered.
"I see... I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd been bullied all this time," the principal said gently.
"It's okay, Sir," Airi replied.
Suddenly, the bell signaling the next lesson rang.
"I'll go back to class now, Sir," Airi said as she stood up.
"Ah... yes," the principal replied.
Airi walked back to her classroom. She looked at her classmates, who were still busy with their own affairs, before quietly returning to her seat.
Just as Airi was about to sit down, Hana called out to her.
"Hey, Airi. Why did you run off earlier?" Hana asked.
"I went to the office to submit my assignment," Airi answered calmly.
"You should've submitted ours too. Now, take my assignment to the office," Hana ordered.
Airi nodded.
Not long after, all the students suddenly shouted in unison.
"Mine too!"
Airi picked up all their notebooks. They felt heavy in her hands as she headed back to the office to submit them all.
When she arrived at the office, the principal looked at her.
"Why are you here again?" he asked.
"They told me to submit their assignments," Airi answered.
The principal, who had been sitting, immediately stood up and took all the notebooks from Airi.
"Now go back to your classroom," he said.
"Okay, Sir," Airi replied before running back to class.
When she arrived, the teacher was Mr. Sen, who was notorious for being the strictest teacher in the school.
"Where have you been?" Mr. Sen asked sharply.
"S-Sorry, Sir. I..." Airi began, but stopped.
One of her classmates interrupted.
"She was probably at the cafeteria. Punish her, Sir!"
"Is that true?" Mr. Sen asked as he stared at Airi.
"No, Sir. I was at the office. I just finished submitting all their assignments," Airi explained.
"Don't make excuses. Now get out of my class!" Mr. Sen ordered sternly.
Airi lowered her head in disappointment.
"Okay..." she said quietly.
She left the classroom and crouched down beside the wall, her heart feeling crushed.
Not long after, an upperclassman passed by and noticed Airi sitting alone.
"What are you doing out here?" the upperclassman asked.
"Nothing," Airi replied briefly.
The upperclassman glanced toward Class 2-C and saw Mr. Sen teaching.
"No wonder. Mr. Sen is teaching this class," the upperclassman said.
Airi remained silent.
The upperclassman then noticed the principal walking toward Class 3-A, their own classroom, and left without saying anything else.
The principal glanced at Airi, who was still sitting outside.
"Why are you out here?" he asked.
"Mr. Sen told me to stay here until his lesson is over," Airi replied.
"I'll go into your classroom and talk to him," the principal said.
"Don't, Sir," Airi quickly said as she stood up.
"Why?" the principal asked.
"I... um... I just want to skip one lesson so I don't get too stressed," Airi said.
"Then don't skip class too often, okay?" the principal replied.
"Okay," Airi answered.
"Well then, I'll be going," the principal said as he turned and headed toward Class 3-A.
"Yes, Sir," Airi replied quietly.
---
Mr. Sen's lesson finally ended.
He walked out of the classroom while carrying a ruler.
Mr. Sen looked at Airi, who was still sitting outside.
"Stand up," he ordered sternly.
Airi immediately stood up.
"Give me your hands," Mr. Sen said.
Airi held out both hands.
Mr. Sen struck them with the ruler. Airi endured the pain without saying anything.
"Don't be late to my class again," Mr. Sen said.
"I'm sorry," Airi replied.
Mr. Sen immediately walked away, and Airi returned to the classroom.
Hana looked at her with a mocking expression.
"Well, well. Looks like the idiot is starting to become a troublemaker," she said.
Airi remained silent and didn't even look at her.
It was now time for Indonesian Language class, but the teacher didn't show up, so they had a free period.
Airi opened her notebook and began writing her own summary of the lesson.
None of her classmates paid any attention to her.
Not long after, it was time to go home.
Airi walked home alone.
When she arrived, as usual, no one was there to greet her.
She immediately took a shower and went to sleep.
---
The next morning, Airi got ready and left for school.
On the way, she saw an elderly woman struggling to cross the street.
"Grandma, let me help you cross," Airi said as she gently guided the woman.
"Won't you be late for school?" the old woman asked.
"It's okay. I'll only be a little late," Airi replied.
After they reached the other side, the old woman smiled.
"Thank you, dear."
"You're welcome, Grandma," Airi replied.
"Be careful on your way, dear," the old woman said.
"I will, Grandma," Airi replied before continuing to run toward school.
---
When Airi arrived at school, she immediately headed toward her classroom.
Unfortunately, Mr. Sen was the teacher again.
Airi gathered her courage and entered the classroom.
"Late again. Don't enter my class!" Mr. Sen said sharply.
"I'm sorry, Sir," Airi replied quietly before immediately leaving the classroom.
At that moment, a new student entered the classroom.
"Students, we have a new student joining us today. Please introduce yourself," Mr. Sen said.
"Hi, everyone. My name is Nanao. Starting today, I'll be joining this class," the new student introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you, Nanao," several students said together.
"Please sit in that empty seat," Mr. Sen said, pointing toward the desk.
Airi heard this and thought to herself,
A new student? Hmm... Maybe she'll bully me too...
When Mr. Sen's lesson ended, he came outside again and told Airi to hold out her hands.
Airi held out her hands.
Mr. Sen struck them with the ruler again.
"Come inside," he said.
"Okay, Sir," Airi replied before entering the classroom.
She was surprised to see that the seat beside hers was now occupied by Nanao.
Airi sat down in her seat.
"Hi, my name is Nanao. Nice to meet you," Nanao said.
"Yeah," Airi replied briefly.
"What's your name?" Nanao asked.
"Airi," she answered.
"Airi? That's a nice name," Nanao said with a smile.
"I see," Airi replied.
"Your expression is so stiff," Nanao commented.
"Uh... what am I supposed to do about it?" Airi asked hesitantly.
"Smile a little. You're pretty, you know? But you look so gloomy," Nanao said.
"Are you complimenting me?" Airi asked, slightly surprised.
"That's just a fact. You're pretty, but your expression is terrible," Nanao replied.
"I see..." Airi said, nodding.
"Oh, by the way, why didn't you enter the classroom earlier?" Nanao asked.
"I was late," Airi answered.
"Oh... I just found out that if you're late, you aren't allowed to attend the lesson anymore," Nanao said.
"That's normal. Mr. Sen is like that," Airi replied.
"Mr. Sen? Oh, you mean the teacher from earlier?" Nanao asked.
"Yeah," Airi replied.
"Why are you so stiff?" Nanao asked curiously.
"I've always been like this," Airi answered.
"Ohhh, so you're a rare species of human," Nanao said.
"What?" Airi asked in confusion.
"It's rare to see a pretty girl who's as stiff as a statue," Nanao said.
"Are you making fun of me or complimenting me?" Airi asked, genuinely confused.
"I was complimenting you just now," Nanao said with a smile.
"Oh..." Airi replied.
"Do you want to?" Nanao suddenly asked.
"Want to what?" Airi asked.
"Take me on a tour around the school so I can get familiar with the place," Nanao said.
"Hmm... Sure," Airi replied.
"Yay! During break time, okay?" Nanao said excitedly.
"Yeah," Airi answered.
Airi thought to herself,
She doesn't seem dangerous...
Suddenly, the principal entered the classroom.
"Everyone, you have an assignment for History. Complete pages 78 through 84 in your notebooks and submit them to me afterward. Your teacher can't come in today because they're sick," the principal announced.
"Okay, Sir," all the students replied.
The principal left the classroom.
Airi opened her book and immediately started working.
"Hey, Airi, can I join you? I don't have the book yet," Nanao said.
"Sure," Airi replied.
Not long after, Hana, Luna, and Rina approached Airi.
"Hey, idiot. Do mine too," Hana ordered.
Airi remained silent.
Hana, Luna, and Rina placed their notebooks on Airi's desk.
"Why do they keep making you do their assignments?" Nanao asked.
"They've always been like this. Once I finish their assignments, they make me submit them too. Whenever a teacher comes in, they accuse me of something so I can't attend the lesson," Airi explained.
"So you don't have any friends?" Nanao asked.
"That's right," Airi replied.
"Then I'll help you," Nanao said.
"Just do your own," Airi replied.
"I feel sorry for you. You're basically their servant, so I want to help you," Nanao said.
"Oh, do whatever you want," Airi replied.
"Alright. I'll help you," Nanao said with a smile.
Nanao began looking at the first question.
"What the heck is this??" Nanao exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Airi asked.
"The first question is already so difficult. It asks, 'What was King Gilgamesh the king of?' I've never even heard of him," Nanao complained.
Airi tried to hold back her laughter.
"What the heck?" she muttered.
"Who even is Gilgamesh?" Nanao asked.
"Gilgamesh was the King of Uruk," Airi replied while pointing at her summary.
"Eeh... I just realized the answer is right there," Nanao said.
Airi let out a small laugh.
"Haha, you're pretty hopeless," she said.
"Well, I'm not very good at history," Nanao replied.
"Do you want me to do it?" Airi asked.
"What?" Nanao asked.
"Do you want me to do your assignment? That way, I can submit it for you later too," Airi said.
"No need. I already made a promise to myself that I'd help you," Nanao replied.
"Alright then. Good luck," Airi said.