Ray stepped into the classroom first, his footsteps steady as he walked past the rows of benches. Kyujaki followed closely behind him, both of them briefly standing at the front as the low chatter of students continued around them. Without drawing much attention, they moved toward their usual seats. Ray pulled out a black chair and sat down, while in front of him stood a matching black desk, simple yet neatly arranged. Beneath its upper surface was a small drawer, slightly worn from use. Kyujaki took his place beside him, settling in as the atmosphere of the room returned to its casual rhythm—conversations, quiet laughter, and the faint sense that, despite everything that had just happened, this was still just another ordinary class… or at least, it was trying to be.Seated to the right of Ray was a girl who immediately stood out. Her long black hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and she wore the academy's white uniform with a matching skirt, her posture composed and unshaken. Long white stockings covered her legs, giving her an almost pristine, untouchable appearance. In her hands rested a book, which she read with quiet focus, seemingly detached from the noise of the classroom. But what drew attention most were her eyes—unusual, layered in a way that didn't feel natural. The outer ring held a faint red hue, while a second inner layer glowed subtly yellow, giving her gaze an unsettling depth. Ray found himself staring at her for a moment longer than intended, as if something about her presence didn't align with the rest of the room—calm on the surface, but carrying something far more complex beneath.The girl caught Ray's lingering stare and slowly turned to meet his eyes. Noticing him quickly avert his gaze toward his desk, she raised an eyebrow, the layered glow in her eyes sharp and observant.
"Are you looking at me?" she asked, her tone light but direct.
Ray muttered, trying to sound casual, "Uh… no attention."
"...Well, yeah," she replied, rolling her eyes in mild exasperation. "What do you want?"
Ray hesitated, then asked cautiously, "What book are you reading?"
The girl didn't even glance up, her focus returning to the pages in her hands. "None of your business," she said coolly, voice low and indifferent, leaving Ray with nothing but the faint echo of her composure.Kyujaki settled into the desk to the left of Ray, his gaze drifting across the classroom as he took in the familiar surroundings.
"Hmmm…" he muttered quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "Everything seems as before."
A voice cut through the quiet murmur of the room.
"Hey, Shinnichi."
Kyujaki turned slightly and saw a girl approaching, her long black hair framing her face. Her eyes—white sclera with bright blue pupils—held a calm, gentle expression. She wore the same standard academy uniform as the other students.
"How's your day?" she asked, her tone friendly and warm.
Kyujaki replied casually, keeping his composure. "Nice, I guess."
His eyes then wandered down to her desk, noting the neat arrangement of her books and belongings, a small, quiet curiosity flickering across his expression.
The girl behind Kyujaki quietly made her way to her seat, her gaze flicking between Ray and Kyujaki, silently noting their reactions. Around them, the classroom buzzed with low murmurs and gossip, students chatting among themselves.
Kyujaki's attention drifted to the very back of the room, where a boy with stark white hair sat alone. His hair fell over his forehead, obscuring most of his face. He stared intently at a dictionary on his desk, silent and detached, dressed in the same uniform as the others. He's always like that… Kyujaki thought, a quiet sense of curiosity passing through him.
Suddenly, a soft sound echoed from the corridor as the door opened.
"Now, students!"
The voice was firm, commanding attention. A woman stepped into the classroom, closing the door behind her. She wore a striking red blazer over a crisp white dress. Her long yellow hair flowed down her back, and her eyes—white sclera with red pupils—carried an intense, almost electric focus. She moved to the long edge of the board at the front of the room and stopped, her presence alone silencing the chatter. The classroom fell into a watchful, respectful quiet
Kyujaki settled into the desk to the left of Ray, his gaze drifting across the classroom as he took in the familiar surroundings.
"Hmmm…" he muttered quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "Everything seems as before."
A voice cut through the quiet murmur of the room.
"Hey, Shinnichi."
Kyujaki turned slightly and saw a girl approaching, her long black hair framing her face. Her eyes—white sclera with bright blue pupils—held a calm, gentle expression. She wore the same standard academy uniform as the other students.
"How's your day?" she asked, her tone friendly and warm.
Kyujaki replied casually, keeping his composure. "Nice, I guess."
His eyes then wandered down to her desk, noting the neat arrangement of her books and belongings, a small, quiet curiosity flickering across his expression.
From Kyujaki's seat near the back, he could hear the usual murmurs of his classmates.
"Okay, look at her… she has a big chest," a boy whispered to another, barely stifling a chuckle. Kyujaki listened quietly, treating it as the familiar, noisy background of classroom life.
Ray, seated beside him, remained completely silent, his posture calm and composed as he ignored the chatter, eyes forward.
Meanwhile, the girl sitting to the right of Ray—the one who had been reading her book—carefully closed the page and finally turned to him. Her expression was calm but direct.
"Umm… can I talk to you?" she asked softly.
Ray didn't respond. He remained silent, ignoring her request, his attention seemingly elsewhere, leaving her to study him with a patient, unreadable gaze.The woman raised her hand, curling it into a fist and bringing it close to her mouth as she let out a quiet breath.
"Ahem…" she cleared her throat. Then, in a firm but calm voice, she said, "I will… umm… explain the math subject today, okay? So be good, boys and girls."
A chorus of voices responded from the students. "Yes!"
She picked up a piece of chalk from the front of the board, then turned and stepped closer to the large whiteboard, ready to begin writing.
A few students muttered among themselves, curiosity piqued. "She's going to write something?"
"Yep," came the whispered response from somewhere nearby.
Meanwhile, Ray and Kyujaki sat quietly, their eyes fixed on her as they watched the motions of her hands and the board, taking in every detail in silence.
A light touch landed on Ray's shoulder, sharp enough that he felt the faint press of nails against his skin. Glancing to his right, he saw the girl who had been reading her book. She met his gaze calmly and spoke quietly, "I have a favor to ask."
Ray didn't immediately respond, muttering under his breath, "Why now?"
The girl's eyes flicked briefly toward the teacher at the front of the room, and Ray followed instinctively, averting his gaze as well. The two shared a moment of silent acknowledgment, the request hanging between them, subtle yet charged, while the classroom continued its quiet hum around them.