"Katia... no surprise there, right? And it's been quite a while since we last saw Charlotte's brother," remarked Esther. Her voice carried a hint of curiosity as she spoke, her eyes scanning the room for familiar faces.Haruki, standing nearby with a casual yet attentive posture, shook his head gently. His dark hair shifted slightly with the movement. "Oh, he's not her brother," he clarified, his tone calm but firm, leaving no room for doubt.Esther looked genuinely taken aback by this revelation. Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion as she tried to recall the details from the meticulously read admission letter. It was a thick, formal document that she had studied thoroughly. "Really? I thought upper-level students could visit freely today," she pondered aloud, her mind grappling with this new information.Haruki noticed her confusion and offered a quick explanation, hoping to shed light on the situation. "Eric is busy with something today..." His words trailed off as he gla
As the sun began to rise, casting a golden hue over the campus of Oliver Pigeon Hill, students started to trickle in, their chatter filling the air. Among them, Haruki and Esther stood out, drawing the attention of nearly everyone who passed by. They were used to this: the stares, the whispers, the constant gossip that seemed to follow them like a shadow. It was an unwelcome but familiar part of their lives.The students couldn't help but steal glances at the pair, their eyes widening in awe and disbelief. Conversations buzzed around them, snippets of which reached Esther's ears."Do you see those two? It's crazy," one student murmured to another, their voice tinged with amazement."That girl was ranked number one in the entrance exam... I can't compete with that," another whispered, shaking their head in resignation."Are both of them monsters? Holding the top two positions like that," someone else added, their tone a mix of admiration and envy.Although used to such comments, Esthe
Haruki received a painful punch, but his face remained unchanged. The blow had landed squarely on his arm, but he rubbed the sore spot and turned to Esther serenely. "But I still want to thank you anyway," he said. His voice was warm and sincere, and his radiant smile that seemed to light up the entire hallway—was the kind that could melt even the coldest hearts. Unsurprisingly, many girls around them paused in their tracks, their eyes glued to Haruki, captivated by his undeniable charm.Esther was no exception. Her face turned beet red, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks. 'Damn, I thought I had gotten used to his heartthrob smile by now,' she thought, feeling her heart skip a beat. Despite spending so much time with Haruki, his smile still had the power to make her feel like a nervous schoolgirl.They continued walking down the bustling school corridor. The cheerful morning atmosphere suddenly took on a darker tone. The bright sunlight streaming through the windows seemed to
One girl was deeply engrossed in her studies, her eyes fixed intently on the pages of her textbook. The other girl lounged comfortably against the window sill, gazing absentmindedly outside. Having grown accustomed to the delightful sensation of soaking in the hot tub, Esther emerged feeling refreshed and returned to her usual self. With a cheerful demeanor, she greeted her friends:"Hello, you two.""Hi," came the brief reply.Katia maintained her aloof and reserved demeanor. She was a girl of few words, and when she did speak, it was often in short, concise sentences. Her cold exterior made her seem distant, but those who knew her understood it was just her nature."Hey, have you both finished tidying up the room?" Distressed in her studies, Charlotte looked up and removed her pink glasses. She carefully set them aside on her desk, consciously focusing on the conversation at hand. Her expression was curiosity and mild concern, reflecting her meticulous nature and tendency to ensure
'Ah... so that's what it is. After rejecting him, she must be hurting a lot too,' thought Charlotte, her heart aching with empathy and confusion. She had never been in this situation before, and the weight of her decision seemed to press heavily on her chest.Usually reserved and quiet, Katia broke the silence with an unusually lengthy and considerate statement. Her voice was calm but carried an undertone of sincerity that was hard to miss. "I think he confessed just to get it off his chest rather than because he truly has deep feelings for you. So... don't be too sad about it. We have to focus on our tasks soon."Katia's uncharacteristic display of concern took Charlotte aback. It was rare for Katia to speak so openly, and Charlotte felt a warmth from her friend's words that she hadn't expected. She could see the effort Katia put into comforting her, which touched her deeply. "Thank you, Katia," she responded, her voice soft yet filled with gratitude. She gave Katia a small, ap
"B-but never mind. Did you take a shower? Oh, and I-I was curious about where Esther ended up. We waited for you downstairs for so long but didn't see you. Then suddenly, there was this big flash of light, and we all woke up right away," Charlotte stammered, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. She fidgeted nervously, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere, which resulted in a somewhat comical effect."Oh..." Esther's voice trailed off as her mind wandered back to that peculiar moment. The memory of the eccentric man who had come to her rescue and forged a mysterious pact with her was still vivid. She could almost see his enigmatic smile and hear his cryptic words."Huh... Esther, are you feeling sick?" one of her friends inquired, concern evident in her voice."N-no, I'm fine," Esther replied hastily, trying to sound convincing, though she knew her flushed cheeks were betraying her true feelings."But your face is red... I think you should head to bed early and get
"I hate that name!!!" she exclaimed with frustration, her voice echoing through the quiet room."Still, you must admit he's quite talented..." she continued, her tone softening. "It's such a shame he doesn't possess Mana, but his abilities are powerful. It seems he underwent a significant transformation after being rejected, right?" She pondered this, her mind replaying the events that had profoundly changed him.Love, however, is a powerful and respectable motivator. Esther couldn't help but admire him a bit more for that. Despite the pain he had endured, he had found a way to turn his suffering into strength."But... just thinking about Haruki's rejection... ugh... it already breaks my heart," she murmured, clutching her chest as if to hold back the physical pain she felt for him. "How did he get through that and emerge as a completely different person?" Her voice trailed off as she became lost in thought.She moved towards the window, which was slightly ajar. The night had settle
As he lay there, Ryoshu thought about the significance of the time. It was supposed to be the key to unlocking a new level of magical proficiency, yet here he was, unable to make any progress.The frustration of repeated failure gnawed at him, but he knew he couldn't give up. The path to mastery was never easy, and every setback was a step toward eventual success.Fumiya, sensing Ryoshu's gloom, fluttered over and perched on his chest, looking at him with eyes full of mischief and encouragement. Ryoshu chuckled softly, gently stroking the little creature's head. "Thanks, Fumiya," he murmured. "I guess I just need to keep trying." Ryoshu sat up and picked up the Lightning Magic Tome once more. The Trial of Courage had taught him the value of perseverance, and he wasn't about to let a few failures stop him now.Unfortunately, even with the tome's guidance, Ryoshu still couldn't grasp the fundamental principles of Lightning Magic. The intricate diagrams and complex explanations seemed
Charlotte's sigh was heavy with the weight of her disappointment. Her eyes locked onto the paper she held, searching for hidden meaning in the inked numbers. The quiet room seemed to echo with her despondence. Her brows knitted together, and her lips pursed in a faint frown. "I only got 200 points... so I'm ranked 13th," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, each word laced with a palpable sense of frustration and regret. "Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th."Ever attentive to his friend's emotions, Haruki moved closer, his expression softening with empathy. His blue hair fell into his eyes as he leaned in, a small, comforting smile on his lips. "You both were so close, weren't you?" he said, his tone gentle and encouraging. "If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers at the end, our whole group would have made it into the top 10.Charlotte's gaze shifted from the paper to Haruki, her mind replaying the chaotic events of the competition's final moments. Her brow f
"What on earth is going on?" he muttered, utterly bewildered by the sight before him. The scene was so unexpected that it left him momentarily stunned. Although he lacked the courage to step inside, his curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously peered in. Just at the entrance of the dormitory, Haruki and Charlotte were deeply engrossed in an unusually intimate conversation, their heads close together, sharing words he couldn't quite hear."They look so close... why does this scene seem so familiar?" he thought, a profound sense of déjà vu washing over him. The familiarity was unsettling. "This is the scene right after that cold, unfeeling guy Midnight—supposed to be a Star student—challenges the academy."Reflecting further, he realized, "Because I've temporarily taken his place, now everything is unfolding as it should... according to the script of the game Rainfall Disorder."As he stood there, lost in his thoughts and trying to piece everything together, a group of other
"See you later... but... next time, please don't pull on someone else's shirt like that..."At that precise moment, it seemed that the petite angelic girl had just realized she was clutching the hem of Ryoshu's shirt. Her eyes widened in sudden awareness, and she quickly let go as if the fabric had burned her fingers. What stood out most in this scene was the incredible proximity of their heads. Their faces were so close that even the slightest movement could have resulted in an undeniably awkward situation, almost as if the air between them had thickened with tension.Ryoshu's mind raced, struggling to process the sudden nearness. The image of a tomato was the only thing he could conjure to describe Luna's face, which had flushed a vibrant, almost luminous shade of red. Her cheeks seemed to glow with embarrassment, and he could practically feel the heat radiating from her skin.This moment was incredibly challenging for someone like Ryoshu, who was acutely sensitive and easily flust
"Instead of paying for tuition right away, I'll invest in the shares of potential guilds with promising futures," he mused aloud, his eyes shimmering with a glint of ambition. Securing financial growth through guild investments excited him; it seemed a wise move in a world where connections and wealth often determined one's success. "And if I gather enough goods, I might even consider starting a small business in the Trading Guild."The thought filled him with a sense of purpose and hope. He could already see the possibilities unfold before him—ventures that would bring wealth and establish his reputation in the bustling city. Money, he understood, was not merely a tool for survival but a powerful key to opening doors to numerous opportunities and connections.In the quieter corners of his mind, the stark reality of his ambitions loomed large. "In the future, the amount of money I'll need is no small sum," he murmured, his tone shifting to one of sober reflection. Supporting the ta
Upon hearing the alarming beep of the error sound, the saleswoman immediately hurried over. Her steps were quick and purposeful, a clear indication of her concern. As she approached, she leaned closer to the counter, her eyes searching for the source of the problem, and asked, "Are you out of money, dear?"The young man, visibly flustered, responded with a slight tremble, "No... please wait a moment. It seems there might be an error." His fingers moved swiftly over the device, trying to troubleshoot the issue with an almost palpable urgency. Sweat began to form on his brow as he frantically tried to resolve the situation.Standing right beside Ryoshu, the saleswoman scrutinized him with a look that betrayed her suspicion. Her eyebrows knitted together, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to decipher what was going wrong. Her eyes darted between Ryoshu and the device, seeking any clue that might explain the unexpected error.Ryoshu felt the weight of her gaze bearing do
"Ryoshu... What are you looking at out there?" Charlotte called out to him, her voice tinged with concern after he had been silent for an unusually long time.Startled from his thoughts, Ryoshu turned towards them, his face pale and eyes wide as if he had just seen a ghost. The unsettling expression made both Charlotte and Haruki exchange worried glances.'Could it be... these two?' Ryoshu wondered internally, his mind racing. 'Is it because they know me or because they are actively engaging with me? If that's the case... I need to come up with a plan quickly. These scenes are making me sick!!!'Desperately trying to compose himself, Ryoshu quickly blurted out, "Oh, um... I saw a white cat passing by, but it's nothing special." He cringed inwardly, realizing it was one of the lamest excuses he had ever concocted.Charlotte raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued but not fully satisfied. "A white cat, you say?""Yeah," Ryoshu stammered, nodding a bit too vigorously. "It just caught my
"Wow, looking over this list again, it's clear just how impressive Amemura is. He scored an incredible 600 points, outpacing Midnight by a substantial margin of 100 points!"Ryoshu'sRyoshu's friend exclaimed, eyes wide with amazement as they reviewed the freshly printed results. The numbers were still crisp on the page, highlighting Amemura's name at the top with a bold score beside it. Ryoshu, however, seemed preoccupied as he fumbled with a newspaper he had just picked up."This... just came out... I didn't have a chance to hear the scores earlier, but... it doesn't," Ryoshu muttered, his voice trailing off as he opened the newspaper. He was soon engrossed, his eyes moving methodically across the columns of text. Despite his initial nonchalance, he found himself compelled to read each word meticulously. A sense of helplessness washed over him as he realized he had no choice but to absorb every detail. The weight of the information bore down on him, making him feel like he was being
"Well, I only got 200 points, so I'm ranked 13th. But Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th," Charlotte sighed, her eyes scanning the paper in her hand with a mix of disappointment and resignation.Seeing the sadness on his friend's face, Haruki felt a pang of empathy and immediately sought to comfort her. His voice was gentle yet filled with a determination to lift her spirits."Both of you were so close, weren't you? If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers causing trouble at the end, our whole group might have made it into the top 10," he said, trying to inject positivity into the situation.Charlotte nodded slightly, appreciating his effort but still feeling the sting of their narrow miss. "I'm not so sure about that... but we should still celebrate the 2... no, now 3 of us who made it into the top 10! Maybe we could go out for dinner tonight... have a little party or something?"As she spoke, Charlotte absentmindedly twirled a lock of her shiny golden hair around her finge
They walked through it unharmed, and not only that, they managed to carry on a lively conversation, smiling as if they were taking a casual stroll. The air was filled with their laughter and light-hearted banter, starkly contrasting the tense situation at hand. "Do you think we'll be alright?" one of them asked, their voice tinged with curiosity and concern.Ryoshu's mind was racing. He vividly remembered the second scene, every detail etched into his memory, and knew he had to act swiftly. The weight of urgency pressed down on him, his thoughts a chaotic whirl as he considered the implications. "I hope the scene hasn't progressed too far… I need to hurry…" he muttered under his breath, feeling the pressure mount. Without wasting another moment, he took a deep breath and plunged into the invisible curtain that separated him from his goal.The instant he entered, an eerie sensation washed over him. Once responsive and under his control, his body began to betray him. It was as if an u