Chapter 14 — The New Seat by the Window
Morning sunlight spilled into the classroom in soft ribbons, dust drifting lazily in the air like sleepy glitter. It was the kind of day that pretended nothing strange could ever happen — the kind that lied politely to everyone who believed it.
Aira stifled a yawn as she slid into her seat. For once, the desk beside her was empty.
Rimuru wasn't here.
It felt... weird. Peaceful, but weird — like the silence after laughter fades.
"Morning, Aira!"
She turned just in time to see Mina wave, her short brown hair bouncing as she leaned over the next row. Beside her, Tessa was already halfway through a bag of chips, despite the clock barely striking eight.
"You've been hard to catch lately," Mina said, sliding into the seat ahead of Aira. "You and the new girl — Rimuru, right? You two are always together."
Aira smiled faintly. "Yeah, she's… interesting."
Tessa arched an eyebrow. "Interesting how? Like, mysterious cool-girl interesting, or 'I may or may not summon lightning during lunch' interesting?"
Aira choked on her juice box. "W-What? No! She's just—" She hesitated, realizing no normal word fit Rimuru. "—different."
Mina grinned knowingly. "So, you like her?"
Aira's cheeks warmed instantly. "What? No, I— it's not— She's just…"
Tessa smirked. "That's the face of denial."
The class door slid open before Aira could protest. The laughter faded as footsteps echoed softly against the floor.
A tall figure entered — a boy with silver-gray hair and pale green eyes that seemed to absorb the light instead of reflecting it. His expression was calm, polite… but something about him made the air feel thinner.
The teacher cleared his throat. "Class, we have a new transfer student. Please welcome Ren."
Ren bowed slightly. "It's good to be here," he said, voice smooth but strangely detached.
When his gaze swept across the room, it paused — just for a second — on Aira. It wasn't long enough to be obvious, but long enough for her to feel a strange chill climb her spine.
Mina whispered, "He's cute."
Tessa whispered back, "He's creepy."
Aira didn't whisper anything. Her stomach twisted, a déjà vu she couldn't explain.
---
Elsewhere — The Old District
The wind carried the scent of rust and rain through cracked alleyways. Rimuru walked with her hands tucked into her jacket pockets, humming softly — a sound that seemed to echo off empty glass windows.
She stopped in front of a boarded-up café. Its faded sign read The Mirror's Edge.
The corners of her lips tilted up. "Still standing, huh?"
She ran a gloved finger along the splintered wood, the faint shimmer of energy rippling beneath her touch. The world seemed to hum in response — a low, familiar vibration that made her heart tighten.
"Guess you're still hiding," she murmured. "Can't say I blame you."
Her reflection blinked back a moment too late, its smile slightly sharper than hers.
"Don't start with me," Rimuru said flatly. "I'm busy pretending to be a normal girl."
The reflection tilted its head.
> "Normal girls don't talk to glass, Rimuru."
She rolled her eyes. "Details."
And with that, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
---
Back at School — Lunch Break
The chatter of students filled the air. Laughter, footsteps, the faint clatter of chopsticks — it all felt so… alive.
Aira sat with Mina and Tessa again, though her mind drifted far beyond the classroom walls.
"So," Mina said, tapping her chopsticks. "New guy, huh? He barely talks, but I swear he looked right through me."
Tessa nodded dramatically. "He's either a quiet genius or a serial killer. There's no in-between."
Aira chuckled weakly. "You two really love jumping to conclusions."
Mina leaned forward. "You don't think he's weird? He's literally sitting in Rimuru's old seat. Like, same desk, same view."
Aira hesitated, her gaze sliding toward the window.
Ren sat there, alone — posture straight, eyes half-lidded, sunlight glinting against his silver hair. He wasn't reading a textbook like everyone else, but a thin black-covered book filled with strange symbols. His lips moved as if whispering to the pages.
When his eyes lifted to meet hers, he smiled — polite, empty.
Something about it felt rehearsed.
"Maybe he's just shy," Aira muttered.
Mina smirked. "You'd defend anyone mysterious. Admit it, you have a type."
"I do not—"
Tessa snorted. "Sure, sure. Rimuru, now him — you like puzzles, Aira."
Aira flushed, waving her hands in denial. "He's not like Rimuru!"
"Mm-hmm," Mina hummed, unconvinced.
---
Old District — 2:41 P.M.
The café's air was thick with dust and nostalgia. Rimuru brushed off an old table, spun a chair backward, and rested her chin on folded arms.
"This place hasn't changed," she murmured. "Still looks like someone fused a café with a ghost story."
A ripple shimmered across the far wall — faint at first, then forming into a translucent shape.
> "You shouldn't be here," a voice said. Calm, low, and sharp.
Rimuru's smile widened. "Hello to you too, Echo."
The figure stabilized — a young man with long dark hair tied neatly behind his neck, eyes flickering with silver static. His edges glitched in and out of focus.
> "I thought you erased this place," he said.
"I did." Rimuru's tone was light. "You were supposed to disappear with it."
> "You sound disappointed I didn't."
She chuckled softly. "A little. But mostly impressed. Reality doesn't let us respawn easily."
> "Then why come back?"
Her laughter faded — replaced by a quiet seriousness that rarely escaped her mask. "Something's stirring again, Echo. Something I buried long ago."
> "The static?"
She nodded. "It's been whispering my name again."
Echo studied her for a long time. "You still laugh through every catastrophe."
"Occupational habit," she said, smirking.
He sighed. "Fine. I'll help. But if you're wrong—"
"I'm never wrong," Rimuru interrupted. "Just dramatically early."
Echo groaned. "You're impossible."
Rimuru stood, brushing dust from her sleeves. "You sound like Aira."
That name made his gaze sharpen.
> "The human?"
Rimuru's expression softened. "Yeah. The anchor."
For a heartbeat, silence filled the room — heavy and oddly fragile.
Then Rimuru smiled again, her voice barely a whisper.
> "She keeps me… real."
---
Back at School — Evening
The final bell rang. Students poured from classrooms, laughter echoing down the corridors.
Aira waved to Mina and Tessa as they left. "See you tomorrow!"
She turned and nearly collided with Ren standing in the doorway. He stepped back immediately.
"My apologies."
"It's fine," Aira replied quickly, clutching her books.
He smiled faintly — polite, distant. "You remind me of someone I met once."
"Really? Who?"
Ren's eyes flickered — just for a moment, the pale green tinted red as sunlight slanted through the window.
"No one you'd know," he said softly. "Not yet."
He walked past her, leaving a faint chill behind.
Aira stood there, the world around her slowing to a hum. The last of the sunlight stained the glass crimson, and for a heartbeat… she could have sworn it smiled back.