(Not) A Vanilla Levelling System

43

In the end, I couldn't stop the long-winded speech.

Why did he have to say it at a time like this?

It really put me in a very difficult position.

Anyway, I must stop whatever efforts Michael is trying to realise today.

I must save Susan!

I stumbled towards the classroom. It was lucky that the hallway was still quiet.

No! That's not luck!

I may have arrived too early, but I wasn't going to school. I was supposed to go to Susan's house, or see Eva, or anyone else who could give me a hand.

But, getting caught up in the conversation with Silas left me speechless.

Again, without realising it, I proved David and Jason's words to be true.

I was just a big loser who was always afraid.

What's changed, really?

I opened the classroom door, and was greeted by a definite emptiness.

No!

There was someone there. Even if it was just one. Sitting on the seat next to me. "Richards?"

Richards looked up from the biology book he was reading intently. "Ah, McKane? Good morning."

"You here yet?" I asked. Wa