"Teacher Komoe, don't be angry. I didn't skip class on purpose," Arata said with an awkward smile as he helped her sit back down in her chair.
"But you need to give me a proper reason. Otherwise, how am I supposed to feel at ease?" Komoe-sensei crossed her arms and looked at him seriously.
"Well… I ran into a bit of trouble while helping someone. But don't worry, it was nothing serious, and it's already been completely resolved." Arata scratched his cheek, then puffed out his chest with a slightly proud expression.
"Helping someone…" Komoe-sensei let out a relieved sigh. Then, seeing his expression, she suddenly stood on her chair and tapped him lightly on the head.
"Arata, you really don't listen to your teachers. You always make people worry about you. I already heard about what happened in District 9 from Yomikawa-sensei. You need to restrain your ability and stop getting into fights. You've caused so much trouble for Anti-Skill… honestly."
"Yomikawa-sensei already told you? Didn't we agree not to tell anyone?" Arata tilted his head and muttered under his breath.
"She didn't tell me directly. She just let it slip while she was drunk. I didn't even know something that big had happened to my student," Komoe-sensei said angrily.
"..."
Arata sighed. Those two really talked about everything when they drank together.
"There are three things you need to remember, Arata." Komoe-sensei smiled gently but firmly as she raised one finger.
"First, never put yourself in danger again. Even a Level 5 can end up in the hospital."
She raised a second finger.
"Second, don't cause trouble for Anti-Skill."
She raised a third finger.
"Third, you absolutely cannot miss any more summer remedial classes."
"Yes, yes, yes," Arata nodded. The first two were basically impossible, but saying that out loud would only make things worse.
"Alright. Go back to class now," Komoe-sensei said with a satisfied nod.
"I'm heading out then," Arata replied before leaving the office.
"These students are really worrying… now they've even learned how to skip class," Komoe-sensei sighed as she organized her teaching materials.
"Komoe-sensei, you really care about Arata a lot. But Level 5s all have their own personalities. Compared to the others, he's already quite well-behaved." the black-haired teacher said with a soft smile as she stirred her coffee.
"He's skipped class for two days. He never used to do that. He's becoming rebellious," Komoe-sensei said.
"A Level 5 is still a Level 5. They're different from normal students. The Number One, Accelerator, has been skipping classes since middle school. The Number Two, Kakine Teitoku, and Number Four, Mugino Shizuri, are no better. The Number Seven practically never attends. Only the two from Tokiwadai regularly go to school. Compared to them, Arata is already doing very well."
"That comparison is too extreme. I respect individuality, but I don't want my students neglecting their studies. Whether they're Level 5 or Level 0, it doesn't matter," Komoe-sensei said seriously.
"I was only making a comparison. Please don't get upset, Komoe-sensei. This class is mine, and I do pay attention to discipline. Arata's behavior is actually quite good."
...
When Arata returned to the classroom, it was already chaotic. Aogami Pierce was slamming his fist on the desk, glaring at the noisy students.
"Fukiyose, long time no see," Arata greeted with a smile.
The next moment, Fukiyose Seiri punched him straight in the stomach. Then she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a headlock.
"Arata, you skipped class the day before yesterday and didn't show up yesterday either. Have you started skipping class like Kamijou now?" Fukiyose glared at him fiercely, her other hand gripping his chin.
"Well… Komoe-sensei already scolded me…"
"Komoe-sensei is Komoe-sensei. I am me," Fukiyose snapped. That idiot. I even prepared a bento for you yesterday, and you didn't show up. All that effort wasted.
"Alright, alright, but there's something I need to say," Arata said, his face slightly flushed. His cheek brushed against something… extremely soft. That sensation was… very hard to describe. Warm, soft, and faintly scented like milk. So the milk Fukiyose drinks isn't going to her brain after all…
"What else do you want to say?" Fukiyose demanded.
"...Oppai," Arata muttered under his breath.
Fukiyose froze.
She blinked, then looked at his expression. Realization hit instantly. Her face turned bright red, embarrassment flooding her mind before turning into pure anger.
"Stay away from me, Arata!" she shouted, pushing him away.
Then she charged forward again and slammed her forehead into his.
The surrounding students fell silent in shock.
"I hope today doesn't get any worse…" Arata muttered, rubbing his forehead.
At that moment, the class bell rang. Fukiyose, still blushing, returned to her seat. Arata also sat down, glancing at the boy next to him.
Kamijou Touma looked even worse than usual. His head was wrapped in bandages, and there were adhesive bandages across his face and arms.
"You ran into delinquents again?" Arata asked with a smirk.
"...Not exactly… but close enough," Kamijou sighed. He hadn't actually skipped class on purpose. He had been dragged into an assassination incident. A blond guy had stolen something from Academy City and was being hunted.
In the end, Kamijou managed to retrieve the item and even helped the guy escape. Naturally, this meant he nearly got himself killed in the process.
"Um, Arata… I still owe you 10,000 yen. Could you give me another month? I know it's unreasonable, but I really can't pay it right now," Kamijou said, clasping his hands together.
"Fine. Considering how miserable you look, I'll give you time. But you're not starving, are you?" Arata shrugged.
"...Fukou da (such misfortune)." Kamijou gave him a hollow look. He had bought a single cup of instant noodles and lost the rest of his money. He was, in fact, starving.
The morning classes passed quickly. After eating lunch with Fukiyose, Arata prepared to head to the Seventh Pharmaceutical Research Center to check on progress.
After all, he was currently in control of forty-three research facilities and 2,683 personnel.
Not long after Arata left the school, the crosses held by Agnese and the others in District 7 suddenly emitted a faint glow.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
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