"Are you okay, Ryoshu? You look... different. I mean, you've changed a lot. No, maybe a little bit. Two weeks ago, you looked so different compared to now," she said, her voice filled with confusion and curiosity. Her eyes scanned his face, taking in the gaunt cheeks, the shadows under his eyes, and the air of weariness that seemed to cling to him. There was something profoundly altered in his demeanor, a certain gloominess that hadn't been there before.She stood there, her mind racing to understand the transformation before her. Just a fortnight ago, Ryoshu had been a vibrant young man with confidence in his step and a hopeful glimmer in his eyes. Now, he seemed almost a shadow of his former self, as if his life had been drained.Then, a mischievous idea sparked in her mind. She decided to mock the person standing before her, hoping to provoke a reaction. Turning to Charlotte, she sneered, "I can't believe this idiot confessed to you, Charlotte."Her voice carried a biting edge,
"Oh, now you, a mere commoner, want to run away?" Esther's voice dripped with sarcasm, her eyes narrowing as she watched Ryoshu's retreating figure. She could feel her frustration bubbling beneath the surface, barely contained."Goodbye," Ryoshu replied curtly, not breaking his stride as he hurriedly walked away, his steps quick and purposeful. His pace conveyed a sense of urgency as if he were trying to put as much distance between them as possible."But you won't escape that easily!" Esther shouted, determination flaring in her eyes. She lunged forward, her hand outstretched to grab his arm. She remembered how effortlessly she had snatched his mask earlier and felt confident, especially now that she had ascended to E-rank. The surge of power within her made her feel invincible."Hey, where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you yet," she called out, her voice a mix of frustration and challenge. She was not going to let him slip away so easily.Just as her fingers were ab
She could no longer sense his presence as if he had vanished into thin air. The realization hit her like a cold splash of water, leaving her momentarily stunned. Her equally bewildered friends exchanged puzzled glances, their confusion mirroring her own."Where is he? That bastard!" Esther's voice was a mix of fury and disbelief. Her eyes darted around the bustling square, desperately trying to locate him amidst the crowd. The bright lights and festive decorations now seemed mocking, highlighting the stark contrast between her inner turmoil and the surrounding merriment.'Damn it, he ruined the best day of my life!' she fumed silently, her hands balling into tight fists. The frustration bubbled up inside her, threatening to spill over.Haruki, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. His gentle smile, a constant source of comfort, appeared as he laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Esther. Remember we still have your father's party to look forward to?" His voice was calm and
----0w0----"Esther? Why are you standing there?"Upon hearing the familiar voice, Esther turned around to see the boy she had a crush on. Her heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but beam with an adorable smile. Her dimples deepened, making her pink cheeks even more prominent against her fair skin, reminiscent of Snow White's.Esther's skin was exceptionally fair, but her ash-white hair drew people's attention. This unique feature was a hallmark of the White family, perfectly complementing her blood-red eyes, which seemed to glow with a mysterious charm."Oh, I'm just waiting for you guys. Haruki, you got here pretty early, didn't you?" she responded warmly, her voice carrying a gentle lilt that matched the serene morning.Haruki, the boy she addressed, had striking blue hair and matching blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires. He was approaching her at a leisurely pace, his steps light and relaxed. Just as he neared, the cherry blossoms began to fall, their delicate petals
"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
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