Lina:
I was watching the duel between "Arin" and "Number 1," and I couldn't believe what I saw. I was certain that Number 1 would win, but in a single moment… Arin turned the tables! What's going on? Has he trained that much? Or is there something else we don't know about? My suspicions about Arin are growing... Could he be "Number 0"? No, no, that's impossible. But... how did he defeat him that easily?
I decided to keep an eye on him, to learn more. During lunch break, I saw him next to a girl smiling. What? It's "Sera" from the second year. What's she doing with him? She's clinging to him and smiling, while he treats me with extreme coldness—sometimes even rudely... No, this isn't jealousy or anything like that… He turned and saw me staring at him, but I quickly looked away and vanished.
Arin:
It had been a long night, and I couldn't sleep. My roommate came in—that cheerful nuisance… Let's call him "Max." He walked in with his usual grin:
"Hey buddy! Why the long face? Smile, man!"
I told him, irritated: "Leave me alone right now. I'm on the verge of exploding! I haven't slept all night!"
But, as always, he didn't listen and kept circling around me, talking nonsense. We entered class, and I sat in my usual seat. Suddenly, Sera herself appeared.
She said softly: "Hello, my love!"
All the students turned at once and exclaimed in shock: "Whaaat?! Love?! Since when?!"
I tried to explain, but it was useless... Their eyes were full of silly imaginations.
And the biggest shock… Lina walked in and said coldly: "What's going on?"
A student replied excitedly: "Listen, she's Arin's girlfriend!"
Lina said: "Huh?! Girlfriend? Since when?"
The student answered with enthusiasm: "We just found out!"
Lina gave me a strange look, as if she wanted to say something but held back and sat in silence.
As for Sera... that disgusting girl, she grabbed my arm and said: "Darling, shall we eat together during the break?"
I replied flatly: "Sure."
She jumped in joy and said: "Yahhoooo!" Then walked off.
But the truth? I don't feel a shred of romance toward her. In fact, I hate her. She's arrogant, and I don't understand what she wants from me.
---
Night…
I'm heading out again to restore my energy. I snuck out as usual and went to the city center, tracking negative Emotica energy. The moon was shining brightly.
I found some of them and fought with difficulty. My energy was nearly depleted. Suddenly…
Five Emotica surrounded me! It was my first time seeing them.
Their appearances were terrifying. Each one different from the other, fighting with wild, insane aggression, using techniques I'd never seen before!
One of them breathed fire from his mouth. Another held a sword and moved at incredible speed. The third shot ice from his hands. The fourth fired beams from his eyes. And the fifth roared, releasing a shockwave that shook everything around!
Their negative energy was overwhelming, and I… I could barely stand.
I told myself: "Why can't I use any technique?!"
I tried to focus my energy into the "Blood Dagger." I focused… focused until the energy started trembling inside me.
Then, I dashed like lightning toward one of them and stabbed the dagger into his heart. He screamed loudly, then exploded.
Immediately, his negative energy surged into me, and I felt a refreshing rush—like new blood pumped through my veins.
I said: "So that's how it works… I can use techniques too."
I fought the others… one after another. It was a brutal battle. I exchanged blows with the one using the sword, dodged the fire of another, endured the freezing shock, all while gasping for breath.
It was a battle for survival—but I made it.
I fell to my knees, panting heavily. I looked up at the sky… the moon still shining.
I said to myself: "How much emotion can a person carry from all these people?"
Then I sighed…
And the shadows around me began to fade.
After I barely managed to kill those monsters, I felt the negative energy boiling inside my body. It was overflowing, as if seeking a way out. I looked at my hand, now bathed in a faint black light, pulsing with unfamiliar vibrations. I whispered to myself,
"Am I... changing? Or have I just crossed a line I shouldn't have?"
I returned to the academy before dawn, silence blanketing the surroundings. I moved through the shadows, sneaking around as usual, dodging cameras and guards. When I finally reached my room, I collapsed onto my bed, breathing heavily. Sleep was impossible—the energy I absorbed still stormed within me.
By morning, my eyes barely opened. Sleep dragged me down like a weight, but I forced myself to rise. I put on my uniform and dragged myself toward class. As I walked down the hallway, someone suddenly blocked my path. It was Number 5... I remembered his name—Damien.
He gave me a faint smile and said,
"Hey... I heard you beat Raven easily."
I stared at him coldly and replied,
"Yes. But I think he went easy on me."
Internally, I groaned: Just great... another one trying to mess with me?
Damien stepped closer, a challenging edge in his tone:
"Are you really strong? How about a light sparring match in today's physical training?"
I brushed him off and pretended to be busy.
"I'm occupied. Goodbye."
But he didn't back off. Instead, he muttered under his breath like he'd uncovered something,
"You're... not normal..."
I froze. Turned to him. My eyes flickered with mild irritation.
"What did you just say?"
He answered with unsettling confidence,
"Your energy... it's deeply negative. It's almost swallowing the place whole. Who the hell are you?"
I stepped back, my voice sharp and defensive.
"Whatever you're saying—it's nonsense. I'm not wasting my time on you."
He smirked and said,
"No problem... I'll find out who you really are soon."
I kept walking, but a cold unease crept into my chest. Is my identity starting to crack? Is my disguise nearing its end?
I made my way to the corridor leading to the classroom, students pouring in from all directions. As I crossed, I suddenly stopped by the window overlooking the schoolyard. Something caught my attention.
There he was—the principal—standing with a student I had never seen before. The student stood tall, composed, sharp features carved with confidence. But he wasn't what unsettled me.
It was... the ring.
My eyes narrowed as I mumbled,
"That ring... I've seen it before..."
I raised my hand to my head, trying to remember. Where? Where?
And then—
The memory struck like a slap.
"It's the same ring that idiot... Max... wears!"
My heart began pounding—not with fear, but with fury and confusion.
What is going on? Who is this student? Why does he have the same ring? Is there a connection? Is Max involved in something far bigger than I thought?
I stared at the scene for a long moment, lost in spiraling thoughts. Then, the school bell rang, snapping me out of my trance. I looked one last time toward the yard...
The student... was staring back at me.
A direct gaze—sharp, penetrating, like it saw straight through me. He didn't smile. Didn't speak. Just looked.
And then... something whispered from within:
"Who is he...? And why does it feel like... he knows me?"