Second Awakening (3)
As the school came into view, more people began walking on the sidewalk. Franc, who had been moving with her entire body exposed, was probably feeling embarrassed, so she wrapped both arms around my neck and pressed her body tightly against my back.
Her legs were crossed in a way that didn't expose her private parts, but that only made it look even more provocative.
It was a pity. If I had more Phase Power, I could have wrapped my entire body with it and felt the sensation of Franc's chest pressing against my back.
As we arrived at school and moved to the classroom, the kids who met my eyes kept flinching and looking startled. And they kept staring at my back.
Is this your first time seeing an ability user, you idiots! You know you're ugly, so stop staring! Just die already!
Although my appearance had changed quite a bit, thanks to Noona, I was clearly aware that I'd only shed the shell full of various scars and acne. So, the way they're looking at me isn't because I'm handsome.
They're probably just curious.
Chet. If I think about it, I might get depressed.
...Come to think of it, the people I met on the way to school yesterday seemed to have been startled too?
After thinking for a moment, I let out a small sigh and shook off the thought. When Franc was hit by lightning yesterday, an attack alarm popped up, so it seems Spatial Perception has an alarm function too. But since there's no alarm now, ...
Don't worry about it.
Our school is unusually divided into 10 classes by the names of the sun, moon, stars, fire, water, wind, earth, light, ice, and snow, instead of 1st, 2nd, 3rd year classes A, B, C.
When I first saw it, I was shocked by the class names overflowing with middle schoolers, but I quickly got used to it as other kids didn't seem to care.
Thanks to that, I learned that elementary and middle school also use the same names, and that the foundation's class assignment method and class names are well-known among parents.
Ordinary liberal arts schools usually create special classes for high-achieving students to foster a study atmosphere. Or so they say. To me, it just seems like a way to advertise the school by sending good students to good universities and attracting many freshmen.
But Uihan High School didn't do that. Instead of piling high-achieving students in one place, they analyze students' personalities and aptitudes by combining entrance exam scores with a life record and aptitude test (the test costs over a million won, which is insanely expensive), and assign them evenly to each class. They focus on personality cultivation rather than grades.
This seems to be a part where they went to great lengths to prevent prejudice and discrimination. Thanks to this method, I ended up at the level of being ignored rather than bullied.
Noona did too. Hwayeon Noona's aunt, no, the president? Since it's a school, I should just call her the president. The president doesn't spare any support for the students. She's a respectable person, they say.
Arriving at the noisy classroom, opening the back door, the guys who saw me shut their mouths one by one, and soon the whole class became quiet.
Uh, my citizen's sense can't handle this silence! But why are they all staring at me? ...Are they looking at my eyes?
"Good morning~."
"...Yeah. Good morning."
Kang So-ra, who was lying on her desk as usual, greeted me when she saw me sit down. Wow, this is the first time I've been greeted by a girl on my way to school!
Kang So-ra, who was lying on her desk as usual, looked at me, was silent for a moment, then raised one arm slightly and waved.
"You~ eyes..."
"Chet. Unlucky."
Just as Kang So-ra's words were about to start, a voice dyed with displeasure crossed the quiet classroom. Turning to the direction the voice came from, a guy with a frowning face was staring at me with a blatantly displeased expression.
That's him, right? When I returned, he laughed saying the aberrants weren't a big deal, and even after that, he started fights.
Does this guy have some grudge against me? I saw him for the first time in 3rd year, why does he keep picking fights?
I don't know his name. Just a shaggy cut style... Annoying but frowning face with a face better looking than mine. Eh? Hostility?!
Physiological level of disgust like seeing a leg-heavy arthropod insect. The source of that disgust is that shaggy head.
There's a hierarchy in hostility too. Thanks to this guy, I learned it, so I should be grateful?
Compared to that, according to my philosophy that judging by looks is useless, this guy has decent looks and neat clothing, so he shouldn't have any reason to pick fights with others?
I don't remember his name because I wasn't interested, but I remember that after he advanced to 3rd year, he naturally blended into the class and quickly became close with most of the class kids.
It means there's no problem with his personality.
Staring at the shaggy head sending displeased glances, I turned my head.
It's funny that an ability user is growling at normal people. Instead, give him minus points. If he keeps picking fights, accumulate the points until... if minus points exceed 10, then I can step on him later.
Franc, who had been squatting next to me hiding her body behind the desk, was glaring at the shaggy head with a displeased expression, so I secretly stroked her head a little. Displeasure doesn't suit Franc's pretty face.
Since my thought reached her, Franc's eyes widened, then she lowered her gaze shyly.
Kang So-ra, noticing my expression, let out a strange snort "phung" when I didn't react much, straightened her posture, took out the educational tablet, and prepared for class.
Ah, come to think of it, the exam schedule... Hic, next month?! I have to memorize the textbooks quickly. If I slack off, I'll fail the exam!
Failing the exam isn't the problem, but I'm terrified of Noona seeing it and going crazy!
After the first period ended, it was break time. Usually, the class becomes noisy before the teacher leaves, but today it's strangely quiet.
No, it was quiet yesterday too... Probably because of me. Some kids are whispering and going out of the classroom with friends, it would be more comfortable if I just left my seat.
"Huuung... Are sensor ability users like this, lacking in character? In the monthly Radar's interview, the sensor ability users seemed to have something to them."
"It wasn't just me who looked plain..."
"Let's go, I have something to bring to the club room."
"What do you have to bring?"
"A replica album released in 1975."
...Sitting on the railing outside the school right side stairs, I feel like a zoo monkey.
Still, it would be better if I was the one watching the kids who are looking around like that. I can use Spatial Perception to... hmm, evaluate them.
But if I'm in the classroom, that shaggy head keeps glancing at me, making me uncomfortable, and before becoming an ability user, I was treated like air, but now there's a clear distance, it's uncomfortable too.
Seeing a cute girl staring at me with "hee~" unconsciously scanning her, when I saw that little place, I thought "this isn't it" and reduced the Spatial Perception range.
It's not the Phase World here, and I don't need to be cautious around.
Anyway, it's hard to understand kids who are smiling without a care as if school is fun. Our school is definitely bright and good, but is school life that fun that you can smile so unreservedly?
...Noona said she was happy at school while being student council president for two years, I wonder where it was so fun.
-Seoha seems to have a big outsider complex in Korean expression.-
At the school cafeteria eating lunch, looking at the sports field from the corner of the school rooftop terrace, Franc said to me.
"Um. An outsider with good intentions?"
-Yes. In overseas places where outsider is used in a good sense, there aren't many, but in Korea, it means a person who has their own thoughts or ideologies and acts.-
Even in our country, it might not be a particularly good word... Positive outsider (as sa) negative as sa?
"I'm not an outsider, I seem to be as sa."
-Huhu. Why does Seoha go out of the classroom every break time and wander around?-
"Because being in the classroom is uncomfortable."
She, as if she had predicted my immediate answer, smiled kindly and stroked my cheek. Franc's touch, wet and soft, feels good.
-Seoha is kind.-
"That's not possible. If I were kind, I wouldn't have stolen Franc's body like this."
Franc, giggling, slightly blushed, and poking my nose with her index finger said.
-People who have power but choose to make others uncomfortable rather than suppress them, or choose to be a little uncomfortable themselves, are few, Seoha.-
"Hmm."
Can I call it that kind? Frowning my eyebrows, she gently reached out and stroked my cheek.
-In addition to that, there are many ways to prove that Seoha is a kind person.-
"What are they?"
-The action you did at the gym, or the action you showed when you discovered the Energy Eater and showed it to the surrounding people, or like now, giving up your seat so other kids can be comfortable...-
Pointing to herself with her finger, smiling.
-Giving a high Phase Stone worth hundreds of billions of won to an unknown ghost like me and even giving love.-
"...That's something that anyone with proper personality would do."
-That's right. And people who do such things are called kind people.-
Ugh... It's so embarrassing to be poked like this...
-Seoha's such actions are not calculated by thinking and deciding with the head. So, Seoha can be proud of your actions. There won't be anyone who suffers because of what Seoha wants to do. If Seoha wants it, if Seoha is going to do it, I'll do anything, and I'm ready to follow.-
The next thing I heard made me think of various things... But then I got violently excited by the next words! You mean I can do anything I want?!
Ugh, calm down. Calm down. Franc's words aren't what I think.
But, no one will suffer because of what I do? Even if I just buy one beef vegetable croquette that sells out quickly at the school store, there are kids who get upset seeing it sold out?
"Even if I buy one beef vegetable croquette that sells out quickly because I'm popular No.1 at the school store, there are unhappy kids because of me?"
-Eh? Ah, no, that's not damage.-
"Wow~ Franc is too much. The damage is only the blood splashing, flesh flying, and mentally suffering a lot?"
-Eek! N-no, that's not what I meant~!-
Kick kick.
Seeing Franc flustered and panicking at my words, I laughed again. When Franc realized she was being teased again, she made a broken expression, so I concentrated Mana Sieve and stroked her cheek a little.
"I... don't know. I don't know why the super large, colossal turtle said that to me, and I don't know how Franc can be so confident."
-The reason I make such a claim is...-
"What is it?"
-Because I have good eyes for people!-
"Eh?"
Franc, finding my dazed expression funny, laughed lightly and slowly started swimming in the sky.
-I felt it the moment I first saw Seoha. And I confirmed it again while being together in the Phase World.-
"..."
-So, there's no need to think complicatedly. Just walk in the direction your heart goes. I'll always be walking next to you.-
Listening to Franc's words, I felt like there's no need to worry seriously. She's basically smarter and wiser than me, so if I try to go the wrong way, she'll definitely stop me. And I have family too.
"Okay! If Franc says that much, I'll live as I please!"
-Excellent mindset!-
"Yeah yeah. Then, shall we aim for the first goal to obtain abilities of all types? The period is until the start of summer vacation!"
-Yes! Fighting!-
I don't know how freely I can live with my own power, but since Franc said that much? So, I'll go until I go!
Right after the fifth period ended, a phone incoming signal was transmitted from the certifier attached to my wrist.
Without thinking, turning on the certifier and projecting the hologram, Kang So-ra, who was lying on the desk like a cat, flinched and turned to this side, and the teacher organizing the textbooks and the surrounding kids, the class kids looked at me one by one with amazed faces.
Franc, who was seen with me, let out a small scream "kyaak" and hid behind the wall. Even if the kids don't see her, probably the embarrassment is unrelated to that.
Connecting the phone that was called whether the class kids saw it or not, a blank hologram window showed Noona Hwayeon's appearance.
"Yeah, Noona. What's up?"
Noona looked at the scenery of the classroom behind me, then opened her mouth with a serious expression.
[Sorry for calling during break time. Right now, the head of the National Research Institute under the government and the head of the external operations team of the Korean branch, and three people from the general affairs department of this side are looking for you. It's about the Energy Eater you caught yesterday. It might be sudden, but...]
The classroom started to stir. The three people Noona mentioned, the ones who recognize Noona, and the ones who are shocked that I caught the Energy Eater, three groups.
"The Time River boss is talking to each other? What's the relationship?"
"B~bo. You don't know that your Noona is close with the Time River boss?"
"Really?!"
...What? Is being close with Noona and Hwayeon Noona so famous? Why didn't I know?
Noona's expression slightly frowned as if she heard the whispering around her.
[Seoha. Switch to manner mode.]
Eh? Does such a thing exist? Briefly looking at the call window, I saw a picture with a slash on a megaphone shape. When I pressed it, the guys' expressions that were shining in their eyes became dull, and the girls sighed in disappointment. Manner mode probably means the content isn't visible behind or next to the hologram.
Although there was a muttering sound, I ignored it. Noona closed her eyes and opened them, then spoke with a slightly serious expression.
[Sorry for the late explanation. The visit of the research institute director and the external operations team leader might be sudden, but since the appearance of the Energy Eater is a national issue, I would be grateful if you understand that you'll experience it someday.]
"Yeah. It's okay. I understand."
Thinking about it, it's something that ability users would be called in unison by Noona. I just caught it, so is it natural that the ability user association and the famous national research institute director came?
Honestly, I don't understand why such people gathered just to catch one aberrant that is only minor.
[Seoha. You didn't do anything wrong. I can give you a definite answer and I'll vouch for you. So, don't shrink back when humans from the ability user association and government departments come, don't be surprised no matter what they say, and don't worry. And trust and follow our team's deputy. I gave instructions so that nothing bad happens to you.]
"Is that general affairs department head someone Noona trusts?"
[A person I fully credit.]
If that's the case, I can trust her too. By the way, because of the Energy Eater...]
"Yeah. I'll believe it. When did they leave?"
[It's about 20 minutes, so they'll arrive at school soon. Unless it's about negotiating with the head of the Aberrant Special Measures Management Department, I would have gone...]
"Since I'll think of that deputy like Noona, don't worry."
[W! I-I wasn't worried. Idiot!]
Kick. Blushing with a cold and dignified face like that, my heart flutters like a single virgin. I think I'll fall for the unique charm.
Ah, I have Franc, so I can't fall for her.
[After the conversation with them ends, come to the team headquarters with the deputy.]
"Eh? Why?"
"Why, you say... I received a call that I want to take Seoha to the headquarters for a tour, but did you not hear it? And I have to write a contract too."
Ah, tour.
"Okay. I'll go."
[Um. Then I'll cut. See you later.]
Franc, who was watching Seoha talking to Noona from squatting next to the desk, after the call ended, looked up at me and asked.
-Because of the Energy Eater. You said that Hwayeon was going to be sent to the research institute, right?-
-Yeah. She said there are almost no ones who were caught that well. If she sent it to the research institute, there's no reason for her to contact me.-
-Then, it seems that something happened that Seoha needs the Energy Eater. Maybe...-
-Eh? Franc, do you have some guess?-
Asking back, emphasizing, looking at Franc's cleavage gathered naturally, Spatial Perception naturally sweeps her naked body.
Spatial Perception ability, to see the first thing I focus on, I drew the below of Franc squatting with knees together without filtering into my brain. The anus like a small chrysanthemum flower, slightly open clam due to posture, is too destructive to be admired.
But Franc's naked body seen with Spatial Perception is gray. Since Spatial Perception became, I can confirm it with almost real color, but it seems a bit different from focusing Mana Sieve on the eyes.
...No! I have to stop thinking!
It's a problem. I might draw a tent soon. 29 people are watching me, if I draw a tent, a big disaster will happen.
I ended the certifier and pretended to support my chin with my hand, turned my face towards the window to cover my mouth. If the appearance of talking to Franc is seen by the class kids, they'll just see me opening my mouth continuously.
Franc, who turned to the direction my gaze was going and confirmed there's nothing, tilted her head, stood up, and said with a slightly hazy face.
-It might be my overreaction, but... I thought it might be because of the Phase Power you fed to the Energy Eater.-
Franc said that, closed her eyes and clasped her hands as if praying, putting them slightly to her mouth, it was the appearance of hoping her thoughts were wrong.
"Hmm..."
Indeed, it was a careless action. Just because the eyes were annoying, I didn't kill the aberrant but caught it with my hand, or the action of feeding Phase Power little by little because it tried to eat Phase Power, it was proof that I was too insensitive to safety, as Franc said yesterday.
-If, as Franc said, a problem occurred because of the Phase Power I ate, I should pretend not to know and deny it?-
-H, but it might not be a big deal. If it was a big deal, Hwayeon would have told you in the call just now.-
-I think so too. For now, let's suspend judgment until those people come. It would be good to hide that I can control Phase Power at will.-
Noona and Choi Soohan saw me moving Phase Power according to my intention in front of them. At the time, I didn't care about either of them... Kueum.
Normally, I have various random thoughts, but in important or dangerous situations, I seem to act impulsively. So, Franc probably pointed it out while sobbing.
-Thinking about it, I always shortened my thoughts and acted impulsively in important moments.-
-That was always a problem among the knights dispatched to the field.-
-Really?-
Franc smiled bitterly, squatted down, placed her face slightly on my desk, and faced me with eyes.
-Shortening thoughts and moving the body according to momentary judgment and intuition increases the chance of mistakes. However, not always making the right judgment by thinking long. Even among seniors and juniors, there are judgment errors...-
Franc stopped talking suddenly. From the expression of mistake, I guessed what words would follow.
-You died.-
-...Yeah...-
The hazy expression was because of that. I made her recall bad memories.
-...Wow~. If Franc wasn't there, it would be a big problem? -
-Eh?-
Franc's eyes widened at the incomprehensible words.
-I'm a little stupid, you know. I'll try to fix the parts Franc worried about, but I might forget quickly and do the same thing. So, Franc has to watch over me from the side. You'll watch, right?-
-Ah... Yeah! I'll work hard. Just leave it to me!-
With a bright expression, nodding her head enthusiastically, when I smiled at Franc.
Ding dong~
[Seoha Jeong of 3rd year. Seoha Jeong of 3rd year student, please come to the principal's office immediately. I will inform you again. 3rd year of...]
The school announcement broadcast calling me came out from the speaker. Probably the people Noona mentioned arrived.
Leaving the noisy kids behind, going out of the classroom, the 6th period class bell rang, and the math teacher for 6th period entered.
"Ah, it's you. Go quickly."
The math teacher, who knew me, shook his hand quickly as our eyes met, telling me to go fast. Bowing my head slightly to the teacher, I came out of the classroom.