The sun rose on a new day, its golden rays reflecting off the windowpane of Reichi's room as the alarm clock rang mercilessly, announcing the start of a new school day at the academy.
Reiichi slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if his body had just been pulled from a bloody battle. As he tried to regain consciousness, he turned to his right... to see Ryoko sleeping on the floor, covered with a pink blanket, an empty carton of chocolate milk next to her head.
His features froze, then his eyes widened in horror.
Reiichi (terrified): "Reiko! What are you doing here!?"
Reiko jumped up from where he was lying, yawning, as if he were used to such morning screams:
Ryoko (innocently): "I just wanted to try sleeping at Miko's house... It looks cozy!"
Ryuichi (tense): "What do you mean, cozy!? You're my opponent in the arena, not my roommate!!"
Miko enters at that moment carrying a cup of tea, and she doesn't seem surprised at all:
Miko (calmly): "We found him sleeping in front of the door at night... He said he couldn't find a train to go home."
Natsumi (from afar): "He's never even ridden a train in his life!"
Ryoko (rubbing his eyes): "I was watching the stars... then I suddenly fell asleep."
Reiichi (holding his head): "Oh my God... even my stars are being watched now!"
Reiichi got up from his seat with a long sigh, then made his way to the bathroom with a sleepy face and a grumbling voice:
Reichi (mumbling): "Even the morning has lost its meaning... What kind of life is this..."
He turned on the cold water and washed his face, looking at himself in the mirror.
Reichi (talking to himself): "A new day... Let's try not to blow it."
He returned to the kitchen, wiping his face with a towel, to find the breakfast table neatly set. Miko had placed a plate of toast for him, next to it eggs with shiitake mushrooms (which he didn't know if he liked), and a glass of fresh orange juice.
Miko (smiling): "A breakfast fit for champions."
Reiichi (gratefully): "Thank you... This is more than wonderful."
He headed toward the chair to sit down, but before he reached it...
A familiar voice (excessively energetic): "Good morning, class star!"
He froze in place, then slowly turned around... to see Erica sitting at the table, waving at him with a radiant smile, as if she had been staying with them for a week.
Reiichi (hoarsely): "Don't tell me... Don't tell me you're going to accompany me again."
Erica (winking): "Unfortunately... yes!"
Reiichi (sitting down on the chair): "The universe is against me... completely against me."
Natsumi (from the sofa, sipping tea): "Ryoko, it seems that your companion in suffering is starting to double."
Ryoko (from the corner of the room): "Definitely! I'll accompany him tomorrow, and the day after, and maybe we'll form a club for accompanying walkers!"
Reiichi (burying his face in the table): "I don't know anymore... Am I the hero of a novel? Or the victim of a social conspiracy?"
Miko laughed lightly as she placed the napkin next to him:
Miko: "All you have to do now is finish your breakfast, go to college... and don't try to fight with anyone, okay?"
Reiichi: "It's hard... but I'll try."
Then he picked up his fork and knife and began to eat his breakfast quietly... but he knew very well that this calm would not last long.
Reiichi finished the last bite of his shiitake toast and swallowed a final sip of orange juice as he quietly pushed his plate in front of him. He sighed with relief and slowly stood up, heading toward his room:
Reiichi (muttering): "I'll go put on my glasses... I need to talk to Oura before I leave."
But before he could take his first step toward the door, Miko quietly opened the back door, approaching him with the smart glasses in her hands. She seemed a little hesitant, but there was a soft look of concern in her eyes.
Miko (with a slight smile): "I knew you would ask for them... so I went to get them from your room."
Reiichi (surprised): "Huh? Ah... thank you."
He reached out to take the glasses, but before he could grab them, Miko pulled them back for a moment, saying:
Miko (with a serious look mixed with a playful tone): "But don't talk to her too much, remember what I told you. Your health comes first, then focus on your studies, and then Aura later, understand?"
Reiichi (with a slight laugh): "What is this? Military priorities?"
Miko (smiling): "Exactly."
He took the glasses and put them on his eyes, then a dim light flashed on the lenses, and Aura's interface began to appear on the augmented reality lenses.
Aura's voice (light and soft): "Good morning, latecomer... I thought you were asleep forever."
Reiichi (in a faint tone): "It was a noisy morning."
Aura (jokingly): "No doubt, especially with Erica around."
Reiichi (glancing at Erica, who was watching him from a distance and smiling confidently): "I think everything in my life has become noisy."
Miko exchanged glances with Ruiichi, then whispered to him:
Miko: "Don't forget that today will be a long day, so try not to cause chaos at the college this time."
Ryuichi (raising his eyebrow): "Me? Cause chaos?!"
Natsumi (laughing from behind): "You're a magnet for chaos, don't bother denying it."
.....
Reiichi opened the door of the house, breathing in the fresh morning air, his eyes half-closed from the sunlight that was beginning to intensify. Behind him, Erika was getting ready to leave, arranging her blue scarf on her shoulders with the confidence of a deputy captain, while the quiet engine of her car whispered in the driveway.
Before Erika closed the door behind her, Reichi suddenly turned around, remembering something important:
Reichi (looking at Miko):
"Wait... Miko, where's Ryoko? Don't tell me he's still asleep?!"
Miko (looking up from her teacup with a cold, sarcastic expression):
"No, the big kid is coming with me to college for the next class. He said he needs some time to wash his brain after a noisy night like this."
Reiichi (sighs deeply):
"His brain? Are you sure he has one?"
Natsumi (from inside the kitchen):
"Don't underestimate Ryoko... at least he knows how to use it in a fun way."
Erica laughed softly as she pushed the door open and closed it gently behind her, then walked steadily toward the car. Ryuichi got in next to her in the front seat and fastened his seatbelt as the car's engine purred into life.
Erica turned the steering wheel, while the car's interior display showed the familiar route to the college.
Erica (raising her eyebrow):
"Do I need to explain again that your seat here is non-negotiable? Don't plan on running away halfway through."
Suddenly, the front of the glasses reflected in his eyes, revealing the lightness of Ora's communication interface, but without any external sound.
Ora (whispering into the glasses' audio system):
"Reichi, we must maintain high-level encryption. If the deputy commander finds out that I'm working with you, she may consider it a breach of security protocol."
Reichi (whispering inside, barely moving his lips):
"I know... That's why I'm keeping you in silent mode. Just tell me if something urgent comes up."
Ora (slightly hesitant):
"Yesterday, I detected a kind of heightened nervous stimulation when you looked at Erika... Is there an explanation for that?"
Reiichi (glancing quickly out the window, trying to hide his tension):
"...It was because we were fighting. She was strong. That's all."
Ora (in a neutral tone):
"I understand. I'll just monitor your vital signs in case something happens. And remember... if you feel exhausted, you must stop. Your mana center cannot withstand repeated stress."
Reiichi (whispering, frowning):
"I can handle more than you think, Aura... but thanks for your concern."
Erica (turning suddenly toward him):
"Did you say something?"
Reiichi (flustered for a moment, then smiling nervously):
"Huh? Ah... I was singing to myself. It's a song from my favorite anime, don't worry."
Erica (sighing):
"Please don't start singing in the car too."
Reiichi (whispering to Aura through his glasses):
"Save me... quickly..."
Aura (with a slight smile):
"Good luck."
Erica drove confidently, wearing stylish sunglasses that hid her intense focus on the road. Next to her, Reichi sat with his arms crossed, staring ahead in apparent silence... but inside, a lively conversation was taking place.
Ora (in a low inner voice):
"I think I need to reevaluate this vehicle's ability to withstand explosions in the event of an ambush. Leaders' cars are usually armored, but this one looks like a stylish tuna can."
Reiichi (inner whisper):
"Don't bother her, at least she's driving instead of me."
Erika (without turning around):
"You know, the more you stay silent, the more I suspect you're planning something."
Reiichi (laughing artificially):
"No way! I'm just enjoying the quiet. It's a rare moment in my life."
Erika (skeptically):
"You're like those characters in manga who smile and then blow up the school five pages later."
Reiichi (in a low voice):
"That's an unfair comparison. I only blew up one lab."
Erica (opening her eyes in surprise):
"What did you say?!"
Reiichi (flustered):
"I said the weather is great today!"
Ora (inside the glasses):
"Your cover is very weak. Do you want me to train you on how to evade?"
Reiichi:
"No, I just want you to not hang up right now!"
At the entrance to the college...
Reiichi was about to open the car door and get out when he turned toward Erika, who closed her eyes for a moment and raised her fingers in a circle in front of her face. In a fleeting moment, it was as if the light refracted around her, reflecting her body in dozens of angles, then those reflections faded away to reveal a completely new form.
Erica was now a completely ordinary-looking girl—brown hair, glasses, and a familiar student uniform.
Reiichi (taking a step back):
"Huh?! Again with that weird skill?!"
Erica (with her real voice despite her new appearance):
"What? I can't go around openly among humans. No one must know that I am Erika Noir, deputy commander of Sigma."
Reiichi (scratching his head in confusion):
"But you look... like a student affairs officer! I swear Professor Kazuma might ask you to evaluate research papers."
Erica (confidently):
"That's part of the plan... to look worthless."
Reiichi (sarcastically):
"Congratulations, you've mastered it so well that I thought about giving you math homework."
Erica (smiling maliciously):
"Try it and I'll erase you from existence."
Ora (inside the glasses, in a low voice):
"Note: That technique relies on a camouflaged optical reflection and neural network simulation. Strange indeed, but effective... in a terrifying way."
Reiichi (whispering to Ora):
"Yeah, and I'm starting to suspect that I myself am just a reflection."
---
As they enter the gate...
Reichi looks left and right, observing the students around them. No one seems particularly attentive, just a group of students exchanging everyday conversations. One of them passes by and greets them casually:
Student:
"Good morning, everyone."
Erika (responding in a soft voice):
"Good morning."
Reiichi (surprised):
"Even your voice... How?"
Erika (whispering):
"I think you've forgotten who I am. The mirror technique is not for show, it's an operational weapon... and a personal hobby."
Reiichi (complaining):
"I'm the only one whose true appearance is a sleepy face and bruises."
Erica (laughing):
"Yes, and that makes you completely unremarkable."
---
Inside the college courtyard
Reiichi looks ahead, then sighs:
"This isn't going to be a normal school year... is it?"
Ora (whispering into her glasses):
"No, Ryuichi, it's going to be more chaotic than anything you've ever experienced."
In front of the university auditorium – 8:55 a.m.
Ryuichi walked with sluggish steps, carrying his bag on one shoulder, his eyes half-closed from lack of sleep. Next to him, Erika walked lightly, disguised in her new appearance that made her look like a normal college student who posed no threat... even though she could actually tear down the walls of the college with a single move if she wanted to.
Ryuichi (yawning):
"Are we forced to sit in the front row? I want to pretend I'm someone else."
Erica (with an innocent smile):
"No, we'll sit in the first two seats. I want to closely observe the teaching methods at this institution."
Reiichi (whispering):
"This isn't a secret conference, you disguised one..."
Ora (in a very low voice inside her glasses):
"I suggest sitting in the fourth row. According to the data, the visual focus in this row is ideal... It's also far from any possibility of being called on to participate."
Reichi (whispering):
"Thanks, Ora... If only you were the one filling in my name on the attendance sheet."
---
Inside the auditorium
The lecture hall was filled with the usual noise: laughter, discussions about homework, students trying to finish their last-minute revisions, and a professor who hadn't arrived yet.
Reiichi entered with Erika, and no one in the lecture hall noticed anything unusual... until they sat down.
A student next to them (whispering to his friend):
"Who's that? Is she new?"
The other student (replies):
"She looks like she's out of a fashion magazine."
Reiichi (looking around and whispering):
"Oh great... They're starting to get suspicious."
Erica (calmly taking out a blank notebook):
"Is this what the study atmosphere is like? How... boring."
Reiichi:
"That's before the lecture starts. Waiting is the worst part."
Ora:
"I can play some light music in your ear. I have a playlist called 'Pretend You're Interested.'"
---
A few minutes later, Professor Kazuma Sensei enters.
Professor (looking at everyone seriously):
"Good morning. I hope you are ready today to dive into the secrets of alternative mana systems and their biological applications."
Reiichi (whispering):
"Ah, the suffering has begun."
Erika (in a low voice):
"Mana is a substitute? That's strange... It seems that this world hasn't revealed all its cards yet."
Ora (whispering):
"Analyzing the subject may be useful later. I'll record the lecture and start a linguistic analysis."
Reiichi:
"Great... Now even lectures are being recorded against me."
Inside the lecture hall – 10 minutes after the lecture began
Kazuma Sensei stood in front of the blackboard, drawing a complex diagram of "Alternative Mana Transformations and Their Effect on Biological Tissue." His gaze was sharp and penetrating as usual, scanning the students' faces as if expecting them to fail to understand before he even began.
Kazuma:
"First question: Who can explain why Zen-8 alternative mana energy conflicts with the cellular interaction systems in the human body?"
Silence... then the sound of papers being turned nervously. Glances exchanged, some pretending to write, some bowing their heads.
Reichi (whispering to Ora):
"In a few minutes he'll explode... I can hear him turning into Kazuma the Destroyer."
Ora (in a low voice through her glasses):
"I confirm, the fluctuations in his tone indicate that his patience is decreasing by 7% every second."
Suddenly, Erika raises her hand calmly.
Kazuma (slightly surprised):
"Yes... the new student?"
Erika (in a calm and confident voice):
"The reason is that Mana Z-8 has a semi-radioactive spectral nature that affects the nanonetwork inside living cells, causing the body to reject it in a similar way to how organs are rejected in tissue transplants."
Kazuma (blinking rapidly as he checks his notebook):
"... That's absolutely right. And in a simplified way, too."
Reichi (whispering to himself):
"Are you kidding me? Even Ora didn't say that..."
Ora (in a low voice):
"The data is being reanalyzed... This answer was not in the known academic archives."
A student behind them (whispering to his friend):
"Hey, who is this genius?"
Kazuma:
"Next question: What is the explanation for the collapse of the biological structure of users who tried to merge shadow mana with light mana?"
Erica (raising her hand immediately):
"It's because of the incompatibility between the two energy frequencies. Shadow Mana has a negative energy-draining property, while Light Mana emits positive energy resulting from the stimulation of photon particles in the surrounding field. The fusion creates a Mana shock that explodes from within."
Kazuma (looking at her in amazement):
"... Are... Are you from the old mana school? Or... from one of the research institutes?"
Erica (with a forced smile):
"Oh no, I just like to read."
Reichi (looking at her):
"Read? What kind of books do you have in the command tower? Exploding Mana for Beginners?"
---
End of the first half of the lecture
Kazuma (in a less harsh tone than usual):
"Alright, I'll give everyone a ten-minute break. And... well done, new student. I think I need to rethink some of my concepts."
Erica (kindly):
"I'm just trying to learn from the best, Sensei."
Reichi (leaning back in his seat and whispering):
"Oh, she's starting to play the academic hypocrite game..."
Ora:
"Analysis: Erika scores high in social manipulation at 93%."
The students left the lecture hall after the lecture, some complaining about the difficulty of the questions, others gathering around the "mysterious new student" who had impressed everyone with her answers. Reichi, meanwhile, walked slowly toward the vending machine.
Reichi (whispering):
"Ah... What is this morning? First I wake up to Erika's face, then I lose first place in my class."
Ora (in a low voice from behind her glasses):
"You're still in the lead, but if Erika keeps up this pace, she'll surpass you in 2.6 weeks."
Ryuichi:
"Thanks, Ora... That's a heartwarming analysis."
Suddenly, his classmate Naoki approaches him.
Naoki (cheerfully):
"Hey, Ryu! Who's this new genius?! Wow, she even beat Kazuma-sensei!"
Ryuichi (trying to act normal):
"Ah... She's just a new classmate who likes... reading."
Naoki (laughing):
"Reading? If reading gives you these answers, then from today I'm going to read the entire library!"
---
Erica quietly appears behind Ryoichi, having changed her disguise using mirror technology, this time into a girl with slightly different features but still attractive. Many students did not recognize her immediately.
Erica (with a calm smile):
"I was wonderful, wasn't I?"
Ryuichi (jumping back in shock):
"A-Again?! You're really good at silent appearances!"
Erica (blinking one eye at him):
"Mirror technique, version 2.1 – field stealth level."
Ora (only to Reichi):
"Quick analysis: her camouflage ability may surpass that of special infiltration units. Her overall rating is constantly rising."
Reichi (whispering):
"Don't make me worry..."
---
Reiichi tries to buy an energy drink from a vending machine, but presses the wrong button.
Reiichi:
"Damn, bitter coffee?! Who programmed this machine?!"
Erica (taking the can from him):
"I like bitter coffee."
Reiichi:
"... Of course you do."
Then the machine finally dispenses the energy juice, but the cup explodes inside the machine and soaks his jacket.
Reiichi (shouting):
"Why does this always happen to me?!"
Ora (calmly):
"The probability of you experiencing non-random accidents has increased by 12%. Maybe you're being targeted... by bad luck technology."
---
Erika:
"Come on, we have to go back. I don't want to look lazy in front of this Kazuma."
Reiichi (sarcastically):
"Oh, sure, did you hear that, Ora? Now I'm dating the smartest girl in college."
Ora (quietly):
"If you want to regain the title, I suggest nighttime review."
Reiichi:
"And if I want to rest?"
Ora:
"I don't recommend it."
Inside the lecture hall – beginning of the second class
The students entered one after another, some still complaining about the difficulty of the lesson, while Ruiichi and Erika sat in the front row again. Although Erika was in disguise, some students began to notice her striking appearance.
Ruiichi (whispering):
"Please don't tell me you changed your appearance again!"
Erika (coldly):
"Of course not. This is the previous version of the mirror technique... It's less beautiful, so as not to attract attention."
Reiichi (whispering):
"Yes... because this college is full of visual people."
Then Kazuma suddenly entered, with firm steps and a loud voice:
Kazuma:
"Break time is over, and now... surprise test!"
A collective groan was heard in the auditorium, and one student even fell headfirst onto the table in shock.
Naoki (whispering):
"This guy is killing us... He's killing us while we're still alive..."
Kazuma (continuing):
"It's a simple test with only ten questions, but the questions will be asked orally, and the answers will be written on the paper in front of you. Keep a close eye on the time."
Reichi (whispering to Ora through his glasses):
"Oh no, I hate this kind of test... Oral questions make my mind freeze."
Ora (whispering in his ear):
"Don't worry, I'll help you concentrate, but you'll answer yourself. Don't speak out loud."
Reichi:
"As if I'm that stupid..."
Erika (glancing at him):
"Did you talk to yourself?"
Reiichi (stammering):
"Yes... I mean no... I mean I'm reviewing in my head!"
---
The questions begin.
Kazuma (raises the first card):
"Question 1: Explain the difference between 'increasing entropy' in closed systems and its effect on computational models of energy transfer."
Reichi (whispers):
"Is this a test or the end of the world?!"
Ora (whispers quickly):
"Remember the fourth lecture—using entropy to explain energy loss in biological networks."
Everyone began writing quickly, and Erika wrote without hesitation. Reichi watched her for a moment, then looked at his paper and began writing, trying to catch up with her.
The second question...
The third...
The questions flew by quickly, and the tension was mounting, but Ruiichi gradually began to regain his composure.
Ruiichi (whispering):
"You're saving me, Ora..."
Ora:
"I'm just reminding you of what you know."
---
End of the test
Kazuma:
"Stop writing. Collect your papers and place them on the front table."
Reiichi stood up slowly, but felt a slight sense of satisfaction.
Reiichi (whispering):
"At least I wasn't the worst."
Erika (smiling at him as she hands him her paper):
"It was easy, wasn't it?"
Reichi (sarcastically):
"Sure... if I were a living calculator!"
A heavy silence fell over the auditorium as the students finished writing their answers on the short test, their faces showing confusion and exhaustion. Professor Kazuma stood in front of them, holding the answer sheets in his hands with a calm look that hid what was unsaid.
Then he said in a steady voice:
Kazuma:
"That's all for today."
Some students raised their heads in astonishment.
Reichi (surprised):
"What? That's it?! We just sat down, didn't we?"
One of the students:
"Isn't there supposed to be an explanation after this test?"
Kazuma (coldly):
"What you did was part of a practical assessment of the lesson. That's the class."
Erika (with a slight smile):
"That's clever."
Reichi (muttering as he looks at her):
"Is it clever or cruel?"
Another student (sighing):
"It seems that Professor Kazuma never misses his target."
Kazuma:
"Getting used to these kinds of surprise assessments will prepare you for what's to come. Knowledge is not only measured by what is written on the blackboard."
Then he left the lecture hall quietly, without further comment.
---
After he left
the students began to gather their things, exchanging surprised glances.
Reiichi (getting up from his seat):
"Could this be the shortest class in history?"
Erika:
"No, it was one of the most intense. I answered almost all the questions."
Reiichi (surprised):
"Really? I didn't notice."
Another student:
"I think I wrote more than I know, just to fill in the blanks!"
Some laughed softly, then everyone gradually began to leave the lecture hall, question marks still hovering over their heads.
Reiichi walked out of the lecture hall into the long hallway, with Erika by his side, who was looking at the passersby with slight surprise, disguised as an ordinary student by her technique. The atmosphere outside seemed calmer than inside, but Reiichi sensed something unfamiliar on the horizon... something heavy, invisible, about to rear its head.
As they walked toward the outer gate...
The sound of slow, steady footsteps broke the silence.
Reiichi looked up and saw a figure approaching quietly from among the shadows cast by the trees.
Reiichi (to himself, stunned):
"Impossible...!"
Aura (in a low voice through his glasses):
"It's..."
Erica (her eyes widening):
"It can't be... It's him...!"
The person finally stands a few steps away. His breathing is calm, his eyes shining with a strange coldness.
His features haven't changed much... but they are sharper now.
Everyone stood motionless. Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Reiichi (whispering):
"What is he doing here... after all this time?"
Erica (whispering in astonishment):
"The last person I expected to see today... is Hiroshi."