"Look, that delinquent actually came to school today."
"No kidding."
In this school where the "deviation value" is exceptionally high and filled with honor students, a student like Kenmyo Isayama—who was on the verge of expulsion due to tardiness, leaving early, and truancy—was a total anomaly. In fact, he was the only one in the entire school.
Elite Private School: Aoyama Academy.
Unlike other private academies in Tokyo, like Shuchi'in, Aoyama Academy only has a high school division. The students who manage to test in are essentially the top academic performers from middle schools across Japan. The fact that it managed to attract someone like Asagi Aiba to work here spoke volumes about its prestige.
Kenmyo and Sakura Isayama had only tested into this school because passing their notoriously difficult entrance exam with top marks meant not only a full tuition waiver but also a substantial scholarship.
The deviation values of the Isayama siblings were top-tier even in this gathering of geniuses. Between the two of them, they had dominated the scholarship rankings for a combined three years.
Talk about clearing the board.
However, after Kenmyo awakened the [Warhammer Simulator], his grades plummeted.
Grade Ranking: 121st.
Well, Kenmyo's rank effectively revealed the total number of students in the second-year class at Aoyama Academy. It was only natural; he spent all his time trying to find a way to cure his sister. He didn't have "American time" to spend on studying.
It wasn't until he packed his bag this morning that Kenmyo even touched a textbook again. To an outsider, Kenmyo looked incredibly "unmotivated." Compared to a common thug, the "fall from grace" of a star student was much more tragic and frustrating to witness.
This was exactly why Asagi Aiba was so angry. The dead are gone; the living must move forward. How could he let himself rot like this?
Now that Kenmyo was actually back, it was bound to spark a heated discussion within Aoyama Academy. Moreover, Asagi had dropped him off right as the first bell was about to ring, so the hallways were crowded with students from every class.
An expressionless Kenmyo carried his bag, strolling leisurely down the corridor. He was surrounded by stares and whispers at every step. Yet, even without him saying "excuse me," the students in the crowded hallway instinctively carved out a path for him to pass.
This was caused by the unconscious fluctuations of the active Psionic energy within him, forming a pressure similar to what novels describe as "killing intent."
"What a waste. He's actually quite handsome."
"Shh, keep it down. Someone saw him walking with fierce Yakuza members late at night. Don't let his looks fool you."
Two girls whispered as they watched him walk by.
"A cute girl like Sachi-chan would definitely be eaten up and then sold off by him."
"No way, Rin-chan!"
"So scary... let's go, class is starting."
I'm not selling anyone, Kenmyo thought. And I can hear you.
Discussing someone right in front of them... are high school girls these days really this impolite? Kenmyo felt helpless, unsure of what to even say. For the record, he had never engaged in illegal business, nor would he.
"Yakuza? ...Oh, they must mean Uncle Akutagawa and the others."
Kenmyo's "part-time job" involved following them, so it was inevitable he'd be seen late at night. But the other rumors—being a "scumbag" who played with girls' feelings, a "human trafficker," an "alien," or a "giant beast"—were all nonsense!
Facing the bizarre criticism, groundless rumors, and fearful glances along the way, Kenmyo didn't even know where to begin his rebuttal. If he shared this with his sister, Sakura would surely hold her stomach and laugh, mocking him: "Ken, you're so lame~"
"I haven't been to school in a while, but I didn't expect so many rumors to be born."
Kenmyo gave a self-deprecating smile. If he had actually been expelled, these people would probably think he went to prison for "further studies" and would come out to unify the Yakuza of Japan.
He arrived at a classroom with a closed door. The sign above read: "Class 2-A." This was Kenmyo's class. He walked in without hesitation. Although he hadn't been there recently, seeing his familiar classmates didn't feel strange; it felt natural.
Kenmyo's entrance caused the air in the room to stiffen for a second before it quickly returned to normal. He walked to his seat: second to last, by the window.
The desk was clean. No insults were written on it, no white chrysanthemums, and no trash in the drawer. No glue on the chair, no nails, no paint.
Inspection complete.
It was exactly as it was when he last left. Someone had even helped clean it, as there was no dust on the desk or chair. After all, Kenmyo had spent over a year with these classmates. These smart honor students knew what kind of person he actually was.
Kenmyo wasn't socially inept. When he first entered the class, his looks and fluent speech allowed him to blend in and secure a place for himself. It was only the students in other classes who didn't know him that indulged in rumors and fabrications.
"Kenmyo, where have you been lately?"
His popularity in class was actually quite good. After all, the [Warhammer Simulator] had judged his initial Charisma to be a 6. Several classmates who were on good terms with him stepped forward to offer their concern.
"If you're having trouble, you have to tell us."
"Don't carry it all alone."
"Yeah, we're friends, aren't we?"
"Kenmyo, I was so lonely without you."
Wait... was there something weird mixed in there?
Kenmyo felt a sudden chill and was about to see who was trying to mess with him. But at that moment, a student by the hallway window saw a dark shadow flash past outside. His expression changed instantly, and he immediately took on the role of a lookout, making a silent hand gesture to the rest of the class.
The other students took the hint and immediately scurried back to their seats, sitting perfectly upright. Even those surrounding Kenmyo scattered and returned to their places in unison.
Having been a student here for over a year, Kenmyo naturally understood that gesture. It was simple: The homeroom teacher is here!
In other words: Kenmyo's "Asagi-ane" would arrive on the battlefield in thirty seconds.
Taking advantage of the crowd dispersing, a chubby boy sitting behind Kenmyo finally found a chance to speak. "Waaaah, brother, you're finally here!"
The sobbing sounded incredibly genuine. Anyone listening would think he and Kenmyo were brothers-in-arms who had faced death together. "I missed you so much, man!"
"Drop it, fatty."
Kenmyo didn't even turn around. Knowing the fat boy's nature, he immediately laughed and exposed the hypocrisy. "You're just afraid that if I get expelled, there won't be anyone left to take the bottom spot in the next exam and pad your score."
"Heh, brother, you really do know me best."
Exposed, the fat boy didn't feel embarrassed at all; he actually looked a bit proud. "Because of your dedicated sacrifice, my dad hasn't hit me in almost a month."
After all, going from 121st to 120th is still progress. Progress deserves a reward. In reality, the fatty hadn't studied at all; it was just that Kenmyo had snatched the last-place spot from him, making it look like he had improved.
"Well, sorry to say, but your dad is definitely going to beat you after the next exam. I guarantee it."
The fatty stared at the back of Kenmyo's head, three question marks appearing over his own. He had a bad feeling. "Wait, brother, what do you mean by that?!"
He wanted to press further, but the door was slid open. He immediately lowered his head in fear, not daring to ask Kenmyo another word.
Homeroom teacher Asagi Aiba walked in briskly, clutching her textbooks.
"Stand!"
A girl with shoulder-length jet-black hair and a very cute face was the first to stand up. At her signal, everyone—including Kenmyo and the fatty behind him—stood up. Led by her, the entire class said in unison:
"Good morning, Teacher—"
Kenmyo, who hadn't experienced student life in a while, had almost forgotten this etiquette.
It's second year, and the class rep is still Chitanda.
Eru Chitanda, the young lady of the Chitanda family. Kenmyo was no stranger to her; they had been classmates for over a year. As one of the famous beauties of Aoyama Academy, her looks were beyond reproach. She had brilliant, violet eyes that looked as if they were moistened with dew, and soft black hair that draped over her shoulders. She looked like the type of girl who would instantly trigger a strong protective instinct in anyone.
Combined with her gentle personality and being a "social butterfly" far superior to Kenmyo, she was incredibly popular with both upperclassmen and underclassmen. No one disliked her. In the words of a certain dead-eyed person: she was a "normie among normies."
However, what truly caught Kenmyo's attention wasn't her beauty—which rivaled even Asagi's—but what he saw from his perspective as a Psyker.
He felt a faint, swirling black aura surrounding the "Curious Girl." Instinctively, Kenmyo channeled Psionic energy into his eyes.
With that one look, he saw that something was very wrong.