Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: I Hate Attention (3)
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...I had no idea what to call this feeling. I even doubted whether I was really the type to get so happy over something this trivial. She's just one girl, after all. We didn't have any fateful connection or even the barest hint of friendship.
So why were the corners of my mouth turning up? I had no clue.
"...Did she go to the entrance ceremony?"
The person who'd passed by me so indifferently—no, now that I knew her name, I should call her Aisha. Aisha, Aisha. After chewing on her name a few times, I headed in the direction she'd gone. Probably to the auditorium, where the ceremony was underway.
I wasn't following her or anything. But yeah, I should probably check out the entrance ceremony anyway.
...Definitely not following her.
Life doesn't always hand you good times. I knew that full well, and that's why I braced for the bad whenever something good came along.
But I never imagined it'd hit me like this.
I couldn't have pictured running into one of my father's 'kids' at the entrance ceremony. The smile on my face hardened right back up, and I furrowed my brow. Bumping into him wouldn't end well. His children all picked fights with me like it was their sacred duty.
Kaiser Carmen. His smug, confidence-brimming face stared at the principal up front. No doubt he was thinking he could leapfrog even her. Arrogance, vanity, hubris, greed. Did the word 'hero' even fit a guy like that?
The fluttering excitement settled, the rising heat cooled. My curiosity about Aisha faded, swallowed whole by hatred for my father once more. Why was I even here? To get revenge on him, wasn't it?
I shook off the distractions and turned my eyes forward, away from Kaiser.
And then, the person from my memory—the one I'd just tried to forget—caught my eye again.
She was staring at the class assignment machine like it was some marvel. You'd think someone who'd been to school would've seen one plenty of times, so what was so fascinating? Before I knew it, I was smiling. When she picked up the ball marked A, it got even wider—so wide I realized only now that I could smile this brightly.
I was happy.
...Why?
I shook my head and tore my gaze away. No time to get lost in one eye. I needed to take my goals more seriously. As I smoothed down my cheeks, I felt someone approaching from the side.
"You look happy."
...I swallowed a curse under my breath. Of all people, why did it have to be you hanging this on me? I didn't want to stir up trouble. Whatever he said, I'd just take it calmly. He had some brains—he wouldn't start a pointless fight.
"Fucking retard."
Starting right off with insults. Pathetic. For all his noble looks, every word out of his mouth was crude as hell. Father's influence, no doubt. Like father, like son—like dog breeds dogs, never tigers.
Ignore him. With that thought, I stayed silent.
"......"
Letting him ramble to himself was better for my sanity. Arguing back always escalated into big fights—not like it was the first time. I smirked inwardly as I met his green eyes while he blabbered on. That emotion burning in them? Straight-up inferiority complex, no matter how you sliced it.
Seeing that arrogance laced with an inferiority complex felt refreshingly novel. And whatever he spewed from it? It didn't even register in my ears.
"What's got you grinning like an idiot? What's the reason for that shit-eating smile?"
"...What business is it of yours..."
"Oh, it's my business. If your face was its usual rotten mess, I'd ignore it. But looking all cheerful? Can't just let that slide."
Was it okay to treat someone like this just for smiling? The thought flickered, but no point dwelling. This guy was always like this.
"Why the hell did you even enroll here? Don't you know your place?"
My place? Like you get to decide that? I glared, and he smirked back.
"You asking 'cause you don't know? Because of your whore mom—"
Mom. The word snapped the last thread of reason I'd been clinging to. Who the hell are you to insult my mother? In my short life, I'd never done a damn thing to deserve that from anyone.
No matter how small, they'd called me and Mom mongrels. I'd lived so carefully, tried so hard. Holding back wasn't an option anymore. Even if it meant expulsion right here—I'd make Kaiser apologize.
With that resolve, I swung my sword.
Boom—!
His ability hardened parts of his body. I figured he'd withstand a single explosion. But what about chained ones? Faster, make the blade connect in an instant—didn't even need to touch him. Near him, his clothes, even the air would do.
Stack the damage, and even his tough body would feel the shock.
I hadn't just powered up my ability. I'd trained my body to wield it right, sword skills, fists, kicks—everything.
...He probably had too. But I didn't think I'd lose. I could feel his hardening weakening. The blasts got fiercer, shards flying everywhere, each one triggering bigger explosions.
'Long fight favors me.'
He knew it too—his attacks ramped up. Blocking head-on was getting impossible. I took a sharp breath, focusing on his movements. Every action starts from shoulders and feet. Read the direction, and no attack's unavoidable.
His knee bends—a bid for more power. That tiny gap from bending—now or never for a hit. My brain signaled, body moved. I'd felt the stares gathering; intervention was coming soon.
I twisted, channeling max power. Shoulder to heart, thigh to toe. The force surged—not at him, but the floor.
Boom—!
Deep crater from the blast, shards erupting everywhere. Followed by a massive dust cloud.
"...You!"
His smug face paled fast. He'd figured it out. Too late. Sword connected, explosion primed.
It was so massive—no sound. Amid rippling flames and spreading sand-like dust, crimson flowers bloomed. Infernal blaze swallowing him, scorching heat rising. Expulsion for sure. Hearing the barrier shatter, I braced for the flames.
...But no explosion.
Like someone cut the fuse, the blooming flower shrank, the blast halted. Dust settled. Heat gave way to bone-chilling cold.
'Ice?'
No time for questions. Turning, I met sunset-red eyes.
Aisha. That was her name.
But why her? First emotion: worry. My fight with Kaiser was no safe scuffle. Explosions everywhere, total mayhem. If she'd jumped in—hope she wasn't hurt.
For a split second, I scanned her. No injuries—good. That's when I realized the ice was hers.
Breaking up the fight?
But we barely knew each other. Met today, swapped names and words. Call it special if you want, but by any common sense, we were strangers. She could get hurt meddling.
Even the teachers were just watching.
Then I read an emotion in her eyes. Blank like before, but faintly worried. No clue what for...but my boiling rage ebbed.
Even so, freezing wasn't on. I shattered the ice, but it refroze faster than I thought. Break the arm ice, legs freeze; legs, then torso.
No breaking this. Resigned, I looked at Aisha. What was she thinking? Even that faint worry gone—her eyes read blank now.
Wonder if we'd meet again. This fight might mean suspension—or expulsion. Starting a brawl like that at orientation? Not brushing it off lightly.
Losing our 'same class' connection stung. More than a little. A lot. No idea why this feeling, but I didn't want to let it slip. Wanted to get closer, figure out the source.
Crack—
Thoughts cut off.
Cold ice entombed me and Kaiser. Vision went dark.
Unfamiliar ceiling. Not the brightly lit auditorium dome from before, just dim sunlight filtering through a window. Why was I here? The question brought back memories.
Fight with Kaiser, crumbling auditorium, and...Aisha freezing me.
Probably thawed out and moved here. Aftereffects of the freeze? Blanket on, still chilly. Spring was well underway—not winter cold. I pulled the blanket to my shoulders and lay there, thinking.
Who brought me here?
A teacher? Or some student. No sign of Kaiser. Makes sense—after that fight, sticking us together would've been weird.
I pondered my situation.
First day: unauthorized ability use, property damage, threats to students... Expulsion seemed inevitable. Revenge on Dad would need new plans. But no punishment yet, hence still in what looked like the nurse's office.
...Anyway, better slip out first. Running into someone meant explaining the fight—last thing I wanted. I straightened the bed, grabbed my stuff.
Expelled on orientation day. My doing, but still absurd. Should've held back? Even if I could go back, no way. Mom was my reverse scale.
Sword safe at my waist, I opened the door.
And—
"...Where you going?"
There she was.