Shot of Silence

Chapter 8: First Impression

While the feat doesn’t seem to be something hard to do, it’s still rather impressive that someone can recall their introductions and sort them out with their seat numbers rather than their introduction order, as he pointed out who was who.

Nia was the first one to voice out her admiration. "Oho~? You remember us already, sensei?" She snickered. This new teacher of theirs had taken her interest already.

"More or less, Mori-chan," the brunet grinned brightly, 'and this one has nearly the same vibe as Morgan. Dang, and here I thought hearing Perry’s laughter was bad enough.'

"Ano, Sagara-sensei?" Sky blue met pairs of brown eyes that smiled softly.

"Yes, Zane-kun?"

"Are you... also an agent?" The boy timidly asked. After all, with how calm the brunet is upon the whole event and his timing on the situation, it's only likely that there would be special agents alike to be the new teachers here, right?

Yet to his surprise, the brunet shook his head. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm nothing that fancy, Zane-kun. My current occupation is your Home Economics teacher, and that is all!"

"Current?" The teen noticed while Heath chuckled.

"I mean, seeing how you guys are studying here while at the same time training to off this guy, it wouldn't be weird if I picked up a habit or two myself, no~? Who knows what my future holds~" He said it in a joking manner, despite how his eyes twinkled at Perry. 

Zane could have sworn that the new teacher's eyes flashed amber in that split moment.

"Guffawfufufu~ this isn't enlisted in the contract, but I guess there'll be no harm in letting another fish in this school." The target taunted back with smugness decorating face could be seen.

"Such a warm welcome. I hope you won't be regretting that, Perry-sensei~" Heath replied, his eyes forming into crescent moons.

Clearly, he's been spending too much time with barbari– ahem, loyal, caring, and kind comrades.

After that, the students began to ask more questions of the brunet. From the innocent ones, such as his favorite sweets, the sports he likes, and his hobbies, to the personal ones, like whether he's seeking someone.

He promptly answered most of the questions, though some of them were left behind as he swiftly changed the topic they were currently on.

All in all, they spent the homeroom period getting to know each other until the bell rang.

"Well, then minna~ I'll be seeing you tomorrow at class then."

"See you tomorrow, Sagara-sensei!" They chirped as he grinned, waving as he left the room with Lilian.

"They're such a nice bunch," the brunet commented with a fond smile.

"Rather rowdy, though, but you handled them fairly well," Lillian hummed, rather impressed by his social skills.

'Rumors say that he’s a wimpy teacher with a lot of troublesome background?' Troublesome as in his weak demeanor has caused disruptions in the main building due to how many times the class he taught went haywire even with him, as a teacher, present.

Lillian couldn’t help but question to herself the credibility of that report because, to her right now, those notes about him are far off the mark.

The brunet is much more perceptive and adaptable to the situation. Not once has the black-haired agent witnessed the shorter male panic despite all of the abnormalities displayed. Not to mention his eyes. 

In front of an oddity such as Perry, she was expecting him to freak out. To be honest, she’s not agreeing with the chairman’s decision in the slightest as it would only make her job harder. But to see those unwavering eyes, which didn't waver in the slightest as he casually accepted the situation, Lilian couldn't help but feel a sense of respect tinged with suspicion.

‘Is he truly just a teacher? Not any kind of underground professional in disguise or something?’ The agent couldn't help but feel wary of this newcomer. She didn't realize that she had been staring until Heath remarked on it.

"You know, if you keep looking at me that way, someone will misunderstand, Lilian-san," the brunet teased, making the raven clear her throat in slight embarrassment over getting caught.

"Sorry. It was not my intention to stare," she said, gazing away while the brunet simply chuckled.

"No harm done. I know that you're curious. I do have quite an effect. So rest assured, you're not the only one," he winked before making his way towards the teacher's lounge, while Lilian stopped dead in her tracks, slightly baffled.

"The heck?" He could hear the agent mumble, fueling his bemusement as he entered the room.

Empty.

The room was empty, and for once, after a long while since his arrival in this new world, Heath had the whole room to himself. Not feeling the need to put up his mask with no audience around, his smile dropped a little.

Those students.

"To think that the government would accept that kind of deal and resort to grooming those children into assassins... just what the heck goes on in their minds?" The thought had been bothering him ever since he heard about it earlier.

This decision was incredibly foolish and rushed. They're basically assigning civilians to handle a massive bomb capable of destroying half the planet on their own. It's essentially a suicide mission, no other way to put it.

"Despicable people," he muttered.

Their agreement brought back painful memories of how he first met Draven, who essentially became Heath's younger brother and was the youngest within their inner circle after the tragedy had been resolved. Draven, who was just a very young kid from an assassin household, had been assigned a mission to assassinate the prince in hiding. At that time, Heath was believed to be under the protection of Zephyr, one of the strongest warriors alive, making it an almost suicidal task.

The striking similarities between these stories made his blood boil. He couldn't help but feel enraged at these irresponsible adults who used children as if they were nothing more than pawns to manipulate.

Heath reached for his forehead, massaging his temple in distress.

‘It's fine, it’s fine. The situation here can still get better, while Draven… well, it’s all in the past…’ 

Furthermore, it’s a past that’s especially untouchable now that he’s no longer in that world. Therefore, he can only console himself with encouraging words.

"They're free now and no longer in pain…"

Although they might not be, he certainly was— well, debatable.

While the place was indeed peaceful, the silence was rather unsettling for him, as he was used to chatter and chaos. Honestly, maybe that’s why Class I-9 felt like home.

With a soft, disdainful smile, Heath gazed out of the window at the clear sky above as an inaudible whisper escaped his lips, voicing his aching heart out.

"I miss them…”