On Wednesday morning, Shichen and Natsuki Minamiya headed to Saikai Private Academy together.
Although Saikai Private Academy doesn't have dormitories, it does provide breakfast for its teachers—naturally, the students don't get breakfast included. Shichen didn't feel like getting up early to cook, and Natsuki doesn't know how to cook anyway, nor does she want to go out for takeout first thing in the morning. So, the two of them came to the school cafeteria early to have breakfast.
After all, they both had to come to school, and the school cafeteria offered a variety of dishes that weren't bad. Although Natsuki technically doesn't need to eat breakfast, she can still experience the sensation of eating, of being full, and the taste of food… Otherwise, she wouldn't enjoy drinking black tea.
Having to go to work early in the morning can be painful, but it's different when someone's there with you. Along the way, with the two of them walking side by side, Shichen was in high spirits and smiled constantly.
Natsuki noticed his manner but said nothing about it, simply walking along on her own. Once they arrived at the school, they went their separate ways to get their breakfasts in the cafeteria.
It wasn't their first time coming here to eat breakfast, so they were already quite familiar with what was on offer. Each chose whatever suited their tastes.
Shichen finished getting his food first. Initially, he planned to look for Natsuki, but he spotted Misaki Sasasaki—already eating—waving him over.
"Shichen-kun!"
Misaki, still dressed in her usual cheongsam, was sitting at a two-person table and waved at him with a big smile.
Shichen glanced at Natsuki, who was still choosing food, and then walked over to Misaki.
"Misaki-sensei… this isn't the first time we've met, you know."
Shichen forced a wry smile.
"Oh, right~ slipped my mind. Shichen-kun, want to sit with me?" she asked.
Shichen shook his head. "No, I came here with Natsuki-nee."
"That's all right. Then let's move to this table."
Misaki gathered up her tray and moved to a nearby four-person seat.
This time, Shichen didn't refuse and sat down across from her. Soon, Natsuki came over and sat next to him.
"Why's this dumb dog here too?" Natsuki grumbled.
"Natsuki-chan, can't I eat in the cafeteria?" Misaki pouted in protest.
"Don't you usually eat at home? I remember you know how to cook."
"It's boring to cook for just one person; might as well come eat at school. More convenient that way, plus I get to have breakfast with Shichen-kun," Misaki said happily.
"You're beyond help," Natsuki muttered, displeased.
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm not allowed to express my feelings? Are you that possessive?" Misaki challenged.
"Shut it and just eat," Natsuki shot back.
"Hmph, I see. Someone's all upset now, right?"
"I can't be bothered dealing with you."
Shichen quietly ate while listening to them bicker. He wasn't interested in joining their spat; after all, it wasn't the first time. Actually, the two of them got along just fine in their own way.
When they finished breakfast, Shichen and Natsuki parted ways. He headed to the middle school staff office with Misaki, but just before separating, Natsuki warned him not to get too close to Misaki.
Honestly, did he really seem like that kind of man?
The morning went by quickly. Shichen chatted idly with Misaki in the office. Soon, it was time for his class.
Originally, the PE teacher's schedule was pretty relaxed, and there usually weren't many morning PE classes. By the time the bell sounded for break after the previous period, Shichen had already gone out to the field. When it was almost time for class, the students strolled out in no hurry.
He'd wanted to ask Akatsuki Kojou something, but after looking around, he didn't see him.
"Yase, where's Kojou?" Shichen asked Yase Motoki.
"Sensei, Kojou took a leave of absence," Yase replied.
"Took leave?"
"Yeah, said something about worrying about his little sister being alone, and he's going off-island with her. That guy is such a sis-con!"
"Left the island, huh…" Shichen murmured, frowning slightly.
So it had come to that point in time?
If he remembered correctly, this should be the incident where the Fourth Primogenitor was about to awaken. Then the so-called "Fiesta for the Observers" event would begin soon.
Such an important storyline—but for now, there was no way for him to get involved, and besides, with his current abilities, it would be suicidal. Perhaps he could only sit and watch from the sidelines?
Then again, maybe not!
While Shichen mulled over future developments, a new thought came: a possible way for him to gain magic power. He wondered if she was present at this time—the girl who was like a saint.
…
"Shichen-sensei, aren't you going to play basketball with us? They're all pretty weak," someone asked.
"Sensei, you do know how to play, right?" came another voice.
Shichen smiled. "Nah, I don't feel like getting sweaty today."
"All right then."
He politely declined Yase Motoki's invitation to join their basketball game. Instead, he went to sit with Aiba Asagi and some of the other girls by the basketball court. Of course, plenty of other young girls had clustered around him too.
Today, Asagi looked different from the last few PE classes, wearing black-framed glasses that concealed her good looks.
"Aren't you all going to play?" Shichen asked the other girls.
"We don't want to get sweaty."
"It's getting hotter and hotter."
Even so, they stayed at Shichen's side and looked almost ready to lean on him.
"Not wanting to sweat is no excuse. Next class, I'm teaching tennis," Shichen said with a smile.
"That's fine, we'll sweat once in a while."
"Exactly—just moving around for a bit makes you sweat anyway."
"And there's always showers afterward."
"You girls…" Shichen shook his head, having nothing more to say.
One class period went by in a flash, with Shichen sitting by the basketball court watching Yase and the boys play. The girls' attention, however, was almost entirely on him.
Under the bright sunshine, Shichen seemed to glow, his refined features and distinct aura drawing everyone's admiration. To those adolescent girls in a stage of hormones and blossoming feelings, they found him mesmerizing indeed. And since this was Itogami Island—where humans and non-humans coexisted—kids were more open-minded, if somewhat prone to naive crushes.
Aiba Asagi spent the entire PE class standing with the girls, unable to get close enough for a real chat with Shichen. Her usual persona in the class was of a cool, quiet girl—mostly because she had been so worried about her mother. Even if she wanted to break character, there was no way she could slip past the crowd of other girls around him.
When class ended, Asagi could only follow everyone else back. Shichen, meanwhile, returned alone to the office.
Misaki Sasasaki was already waiting for him.
"Shichen-kun, want to go eat lunch together?"
"Sure," he agreed.
"Great, let's go."
She beamed.
"Okay."
Shichen and Misaki went to the cafeteria. On the way, he messaged Natsuki, inviting her along, but Natsuki had errands to run and had already left school. At this stage, with no sign yet of the Fourth Primogenitor's awakening, Shichen wasn't worried about her.
After lunch, he declined Misaki's proposal to stroll around campus, leaving the school alone to head behind the campus to a small hill. Behind Saikai Private Academy lay a wooded hillside with a small park seldom visited by anyone.
When Shichen reached the foot of the hill, his enhanced hearing caught faint but continuous cat cries. The soft mewing sounded like kittens only a few months old, presumably strays. Forcing down his excitement, he walked up the path.
On top of the hill, the little park nestled among the greenery. Past the park stood a derelict grey structure in ruins. A glance overhead revealed a metal plaque on the rooftop—two entwined serpents forming a staff.
"So this used to be a church," Shichen thought.
Suddenly, he heard a gentle voice behind him:
"Um… excuse me, who might you be…?"
Following the voice, he turned—and saw a young girl with snow-white, silvery hair filling his vision.
~~~
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