Staring at the empty spot where nothing stood felt oddly comforting.

  Maybe because minutes ago, she had been there: Kiara, framed in that dull twilight like some forgotten painting.

  Or maybe it was the streetlights beside me, stretching long shadows across the pavements like ghosts reaching for warmth they had long forgotten.

  Cars were rare in this world. But some elites among elites still rode them, gliding past the rest of us like stars we could never touch. In a way, the mode of transport itself was a reminder of where you belonged. Top or bottom, sky or mud.

  “She left fast, huh?” Elizabeth murmured.

  “Yeah.”

  “This place gets creepy at this time, don’t you think?”

  “...Yeah.”

  “You really like her, huh”

  “Yeah–w–wait. NO. No-no- no. I didn’t mean that. I was confused. Please erase what I just said from your mind.”

  My face heated like a microwave meal, red, streaming and embarrassing.

  “Bleh ~ That was totally the truth.” Elizabeth stuck her tongue out.

  I-I didn't mean it that way,” I stuttered, holding onto the last scraps of dignity I had.

  But, she didn’t even look at me, just shook her head slowly like a disappointed mom.

  Daniel’s laugh exploded beside us like a grenade.

  “Pfft! HAHAHA! Dude…!”

  And seeing him laugh, I couldn't help but smile too. Even Elizabeth’s grin softened, less teasing and more warm for a second.

  It was nice.

  Weird but nice.

  A tiny, quiet warmth in a world built on cold and fear.

  From the corner of my eye, I glanced at where Kiara had stood. Nothing now but fluorescent white and long shadows. Still, I swore the air carried a faint trace of her silence, coldness and strange ache I didn’t understand.

  “Here.”

  Elizabeth thrusted a sheet into my face.

  “Huh? What is this?” I asked, grabbing the sheet to look at it.

  “Team form, genius. You got to submit it for the trials. You weed-brain.”

  “Oh”

  “I FILLED IT FOR YOU,” she added loudly, like I was deaf instead of stupid.

  Looking closely, it really was the team form. We still had time before the deadline. But of course, she did it first. I was definitely going to…eventually…do it before the deadline.

  Probably.

  Yeah.

  “You’re surprisingly responsible and helpful despite your looks, class rep” I said, trying to compliment her.

  IMMEDIATE MISTAKE.

  “AAAH” I yelped as she grabbed my ears like a mother crab protecting its eggs.

  “You say, ‘Thank you’. You ungrateful weed-brain!” she scolded, cheeks puffing like she had hidden two mochi inside them. Daniel slowly covered his face, shaking his head like a disappointed father watching his son lick a doorknob.

  “OW-OW-OW! I AM SORRY!” I MEAN — THANK YOU, LADY ELIZABETH, MOST GLORIOUS EMPRESS OF CLASS 01-D, SAVIOR OF PEASANTS LIKE ME!”

  “...Good brief.” she finally released me, satisfied. My ears felt as if they were three sizes longer. Elf skin unlocked.

  “I should go and hand this to the teacher, I guess.” I muttered, rubbing my wounded pride (and ears.)

  “

  You better” the gyaru replied with a dramatic hmph, arms crossed like she was auditioning for best tsundere of this world.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “Yea, that’d be…good for you, due. Pfft–” Daniel tried and failed to hold laughter after seeing the state of my poor ears.

  “I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” I said, waving at them as I walked off. But after a few steps. I stopped. Something tugged at me. I turned back and shouted, louder than intended, “Thanks a lot, Elizabeth! You too, Daniel!”

  Then I spun around and bolted towards the lift. I didn’t look back. I didn’t need to. I knew, I felt that those worlds landed.

  And maybe, just maybe, they warmed them the way they warmed me.

  ────??────

  The teacher’s office was one floor above our classroom.

  Walking through the corridor felt surreal, transparent walls glowing faintly, soft hums from energy conduits under the floor, no stairs, no doorknobs meaning no silly squeaks.

  A school without stairs...funny how that hit harder than the apocalypse.

  I used to think “futuristic” was chrome, neon and magic screens. But here it was real, alive and somehow mundane. Strange, how even steel and circuits could still feel like a school hallway, like childhood clinging stubbornly to edges of new history,

  Soon, I stood in front of the teacher's cabin. A sleek panel instead of a door. I flashed my ID in front of the receiver. The panel shimmered for some time, probably relaying that I am here, then opened with a soft whssh.

  She was there, still in that gorgeous stylish dress – a white blazer over a cropped top, paired with flowing high-waisted pants. It was as if she'd stepped out of a josei romance manga and into a war school. This time, her bun was undone dark hair falling elegantly down her back and onto the chair where she sat.

  A caretaker bot, one that resembled a robot straight out of Doraemon movie dusted shelves in silent dedication.

  “What brings you here, Mr. Kurozawa?" she asked, glancing up, voice cool but commanding.

  I swallowed and pulled myself together.

  “Well y-you know...” I shuffled forward like malfunctioning Npc. “I’m here to submit the trials team application.”

  She raised the brow. Then smirked.

  “Oh? Doing something before the deadline? I had a bet on you showing up five minutes before submission closed.”

  GAA! When did my reputation get that bad?

  “Ah, sorry about that, teach. Here’s the form.” I handed it to her.

  Sometimes, it was always weird talking to her. Being a teacher in my past life made me too casual sometimes…but the brain was still of a student, so nerves always snuck in too. The result? I was like a blend of aloof and awkward.

  Past memories do a number on instincts huh?

  That aside, she examined the paper, eyes flicking between me and the form. She did it for a minute. At that time, her red tipped nails tapped pointedly at one name: Kiara Aryavane. Then a sigh, as she slid the sheet into the submission slot and leaned back.

  “Alright, I’ll register your team.”

  “Thanks, miss Natalia. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go back to my dorm…”

  “Wait, Mr. Kurozawa.”

  I froze.

  Her smile curved, elegant but razor sharp and one that gave a very dangerous vibe.

  “There's something else I have got talk with you."

  "You still haven’t submitted your serum initiation report. You are the only one in the entire grade who hasn’t, you know.”

  Oh no.

  If the expression she made now had a subtitle, it would read: “I am this close to hitting you with a desk.”

  If you’re wondering what serum Initiation report is, it documents the most critical procedure in a student’s training: the GRAIL OF LIGHT serum implantation

  The Grail of light, a stabilized chemical derivative of the first experimental compound humanity developed to counter deviants. When injected, it begins a controlled mutation within the body, awakening what would you call supernatural abilities. Every student undergoes this procedure after compatibility tests during intermediate level of school.

  I had completed the physical and blood evaluations, but on the day, I was scheduled for the serum implantation, the equipment malfunctioned. The technicians postponed the procedure and issued me a new date.

  I missed it. Completely.

  The school IHSS centres conducted three separate exams to measure compatibility. The three tests were: Physical examination, Blood and brain analysis, and lastly genetic profiling. After these tests, the students are given the serum at IHSS research facility. Each student is assigned a date for this procedure and is expected to report without fail.

  I had undergone the three tests, but on the day, I was scheduled for implantation, the equipment showed an error. So, the officer postponed the procedure and issued me a new date.

  And yeah, I missed it. Completely.

  WHY IS MY BIRD BRAIN ALLERGIC TO IMPORTANT DATES?!

  “About that…” I began, sweat forming.

  “You missed the date,” she deadpanned.

  “ I would assume, your bewildered experience reads: How did you know?” she continued.

  “I got a call from the IHSS facility. Sigh.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “What were you planning to do in the trials? Charge in with your bird brain and...peck them?

  CHAAAA!

  Critical hit.

  Right on the ego.

  She handed me a card — an appointment slip.

  “Report to this IHSS center tomorrow morning. It’s not the faculty one but the faculty research work is sourced to them sometimes. I convinced them to take you and prepare a SI report.”

  In my mind and eyes, what stood before me was no teacher but an Angel. ACTUAL ANGEL. EVEN IF, IT WAS LIKE ANGEL IN SUCCUB BUS COSPLAY.

  Breaking free from the delusion, hiding the weird glee behind a stoic face. “W-what about classes?” I asked weakly.

  She shot me a look that said, very clearly “Just do what you are told, Idiot.”

  “I WILL TAKE THE TEST! THANK YOU!”

  “Good, Now go. I have actual work to do.” She said, making a shooing motion like I was an annoying fly.

  “Y-yes, ma’am!” I practically bolted for the door.

  Before stepping out, I glanced back.

  She was already bent over hologram screens again, hairs loose, eyes reflecting the blue hue of screens, looking nothing like the sharp and composed teacher that I saw daily. For a second, she almost…looked like a lie.

  Her charm was beyond humanlike, but for the first time she seemed human.

  I stepped into the silent hallway, night lights humming faintly overhead. There was no moon visible in the sky today as well. When was the last time I saw the moon in this world? I don’t know, both the moon and stars hid behind dark dense clouds for who knows how long. That’s why, it felt a bit missing.

  My footsteps echoed in that silence, the shadows dancing around me, as I muttered to myself in this moon-less world,

  “...who would’ve thought the inhuman teacher had such a kind side?”

  Wait.

  “Don’t tell me the teacher has a thing for me”

  Pause.

  AS IF, YOU MORON. AHAHAHA.

  Yeah, no shot. Absolutely not.

  …Right?

  ────??────