The morning sun bathed the gardens of the Gakuen in golden light. The scent of fresh grass filled the air as the songs of birds welcomed the beginning of another day.
But inside the dormitory...
BOOM!
"Take it easy!" Ren shouted.
Ezonku slowly turned his head. His crimson eyes burned with anger.
"Take it easy? You're not leaving this room until you clean that bathroom."
Ren blinked a few times.
"What? Why me?"
Ezonku pointed toward the bathroom.
The floor was soaked.
Towels were scattered everywhere.
Foam covered nearly every surface.
"Just look at the mess you made."
Ren looked away.
"It's... not that bad..."
Akira crossed his arms and laughed.
"Ezonku looks like a mom scolding her son."
The room instantly fell silent.
Ezonku slowly turned toward Akira.
"You're cleaning too, chubby."
"What?! But I already cleaned everything..."
"Did I ask?"
Akira immediately lowered his head.
"No, sir..."
"Then get moving. Class starts in thirty minutes."
---
Thirty minutes later...
The three walked through the academy's hallways.
Ren was practically dragging himself.
"Cleaning is harder than fighting..."
Akira looked at him.
"You've never cleaned a house before?"
Ren grinned shamelessly.
"No. Itsuki always did it."
"Itsuki?" Akira asked.
"My brother."
Akira simply nodded.
"Now everything makes sense."
---
When they reached the classroom...
Ezonku suddenly stopped.
His expression completely changed.
Ren looked ahead as well.
His eyes widened.
"You?!"
A blonde-haired girl with brown eyes stood beside the windows.
She was the same girl who had attacked Ren the night before.
Ezonku looked at him.
"You know her?"
"Yeah... she's the one who tried to attack me yesterday."
Akira's eyes widened.
"So she's the one who beat you up?"
Ren scratched the back of his head.
"Well... not exactly."
Before he could explain...
A tall young man stood up.
Black hair.
Brown eyes filled with pride.
His hands remained in his pockets as he slowly approached the three.
"So... you're the ones..."
"...who defeated my subordinates... and my younger brother."
From the back of the classroom...
Shoji grinned.
"Now you're finished! My brother is..."
Ayaka cast him a single glance.
Shoji immediately fell silent.
"Forgive my brother. He still hasn't learned his place."
Ezonku stepped forward until he was face to face with Ayaka.
"What are third-years doing in a freshmen classroom?"
"Looking for a fight?"
Ayaka smiled.
"I expected less from the grandson of the Demon of Hell."
"Defeating Kagashi was impressive."
Ezonku interrupted him.
"So what?"
"He relied too much on his own strength."
"That's why he lost."
Ayaka laughed.
"So it was simply overconfidence..."
"Interesting."
The atmosphere inside the classroom became heavy.
No one spoke.
---
At that moment...
The blonde girl slowly walked toward Ren.
Her smile was playful.
Before she could get close...
Hana stepped in front of her.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The girl raised an eyebrow.
"And who are you?"
She looked from Hana to Ren.
"His girlfriend?"
Hana's face instantly turned bright red.
"O-Of course not!"
"We're just friends!"
The girl leaned closer.
"Then you won't mind if I take him... right?"
Hana froze.
Before she could answer...
The classroom door opened.
Takahashi entered carrying several documents.
His mere presence was enough to silence everyone.
He placed the papers on the teacher's desk.
Adjusted his tie.
"Very well."
"Everyone, take your seats."
Then he looked at Ayaka.
"And you..."
"What are you doing in the freshmen classroom?"
Ayaka answered politely.
"Don't worry, Vice Principal."
"We just came to greet the new students."
"We're leaving now."
As he walked past Ren and Ezonku...
He smiled.
"We'll meet again."
"And remember..."
"Those who break the rules..."
"...will be punished."
Satome walked past Hana and whispered into her ear.
"Next time..."
"No one will come to save you."
She smiled at Ren.
Waved.
And left the classroom.
Ren stared at the door.
"What a strange girl..."
"What did she say to you?"
Hana forced a smile, trying to hide her nervousness.
"It wasn't anything important."
---
Takahashi struck the desk with a piece of chalk.
"Are you all deaf?"
"Sit down."
Everyone obeyed immediately.
Ren raised his hand.
"Wasn't Tadashi-sensei supposed to teach this class?"
"He's on a mission."
"Until he returns..."
"I'll be taking over his classes."
Ren asked another question.
"When is he coming back?"
Takahashi slowly turned.
His gaze became cold.
"That's none of your concern."
Silence filled the room again.
Then he continued.
"Yesterday..."
"Several students were found severely beaten."
Akira and Hana immediately stood up.
"Ren didn't do anything!"
Takahashi completely ignored them.
"In addition..."
"An academy staff member was found unconscious."
"With severe abdominal injuries."
Ren froze.
"Daichi..."
---
Meanwhile...
In the hallway...
Satome walked beside Ayaka.
"So?"
"What did you think of them?"
Ayaka didn't answer.
Farther down the corridor...
A young man walked alone.
His uniform was immaculate.
His gaze arrogant.
It was Kenji Kurogane.
Ayaka smiled.
"Well, well..."
"The pride of the Kurogane Clan."
Kenji didn't even stop walking.
"Were you talking to me?"
"I didn't hear you."
"Do you want me to lower myself to your level?"
Ayaka laughed.
"For someone who lost to a person without Reikon..."
"Your ego is still enormous."
Kenji replied without even looking back.
"And your older brother?"
"Has he finished visiting the other world yet?"
Satome instantly lunged forward with a kick.
Ayaka caught his arm before it connected.
The hallway fell silent.
Kenji smiled.
"Did I hit a nerve?"
"My apologies."
"That was exactly my intention."
Satome gritted his teeth.
"You bastard..."
Ayaka simply took a deep breath.
"One day..."
"I'm going to break that oversized ego of yours."
Kenji finally stopped.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And I..."
"...will break that smile of yours."
He continued walking without looking back.
Ayaka remained where he stood, watching his silhouette disappear down the corridor.
For the first time...
His smile vanished completely.