'Hahaha!' We're back!"
The next morning, Simon and his friends arrived on Lok Island via a teleportation circle. From the hilltop where they appeared, the entire Kizen campus spread out below them, a view that now felt less like a school and more like home.
"Guys! Let's hurry down—" Dick started, heading for their usual path.
"This way, dummy," Meirin cut in, pointing in the opposite direction. "We're second-years now."
"Oh, right!"
Facing Kizen's main gate, the first-year campus was on the right, and the second-year campus was on the left. Their daily lives would now unfold in a new territory, though in reality, many areas overlapped.
Taking the unfamiliar path, they entered the second-year campus.
"So this is it," Simon murmured.
"It has a completely different feel!" Kamibarez exclaimed.
If the first-year campus had a certain romantic charm with its mix of recreational and athletic spaces, the second-year campus exuded a sharp, intellectual professionalism. It was clearly a domain for scholars. The park benches and streetlamps were sleek and modern, while massive libraries and research buildings stood like ivory towers. Cycads and cherry trees lined the paths, their vibrant petals fluttering down like snow.
'This is my first time really being this far in,' Simon thought. He'd only glimpsed it before when heading to his club building nearby. The four of them took in their new surroundings, their faces alight with anticipation.
"Wow! Look over there! It's the Golden Steak!" Meirin's attention, as usual, was on the food. "And there's a Tabirna, too! That's the best restaurant in Kizen! I wanted to go there so badly during first year!"
"Couldn't you just go?" Simon asked.
Meirin shook her head. "I went to a second-year restaurant once with the class president, and we got so many dirty looks from the seniors. The whole 'What are first-years doing here?' vibe was intense."
"The class above us is a bit petty," Dick chuckled, jabbing a thumb at his own chest. "But I'm different! I'm going to be an amazing senior! I'll treat the underclassmen really well!"
"It's always the ones who say that who end up tormenting them," Meirin retorted dryly.
Meanwhile, Kamibarez was studying a campus map. "Everyone, I think we go this way! The central main building is over here!"
"Good job, Kami! We're late, so let's go," Dick urged.
The servant had instructed them to report to the central main building upon arrival. It didn't take them long to find the largest structure among the research facilities. A teaching assistant stood guard at the entrance with several servants.
"You're a little late," the TA began, then her eyes widened in recognition. "If you'll give me your names... Ah!"
Meirin's eyes widened, too. "The Head TA?"
"Meirin! Kamibarez! And Simon and Dick, too! It's been a while, everyone!" she greeted them warmly. She had been Professor Jane's head teaching assistant.
"Senior!" Meirin cried, running forward for a hug, but the TA stopped her with a hand on her forehead.
"None of that. The semester has started, so address me properly as TA."
'Aww,' come on," Meirin whined. "We're second-years now."
The TA chuckled and let it slide. "Alright, all four of you are checked in." She marked their names on her clipboard, then gave them a regretful smile. "It's a shame. To think that A-Class Team 7, who were always so inseparable, will have to split up after today..."
But hearing this, the four of them exchanged meaningful, almost smug, smiles.
"It seems you haven't heard from Professor Jane yet, have you, Senior TA?" Meirin said, flicking her sky-blue hair as she swept past.
"You'll find out soon enough!" Dick added, laughing like a villain hatching a scheme.
"Thank you for your hard work," Simon said with a polite bow.
"It was nice to see you!" Kamibarez chirped, trotting after Simon.
'...What was that about?' the head TA wondered, blinking as she watched them go. 'Why do they all look so happy about splitting up?'
They arrived at the basement floor of the main building. Following a plush carpet, they entered a grand, banquet-hall-like space illuminated by countless candles. A party was in full swing. Lively music filled the air as servants in aprons bustled about with trays of food. At round tables, second-year students, distinguished by the red badges on their collars, laughed and chatted boisterously.
'It's been a while.' Simon saw familiar faces everywhere.
"Simon!"
He turned to see Toto, a fellow A-Class student and member of the 'Mutants' club, waving at him.
"Ah, Toto! How have you been?"
"Good! Same as always!"
"Hey, loser," Meirin greeted him with a wave. The moment Toto's eyes met hers, he immediately wilted.
"Ah, hey," he mumbled, timidly bowing his head.
"Meirin! Kami! It's been so long!" a girl cried, running up from behind and pulling them both into a tight hug.
'Eek!' Who is it?" Meirin yelped.
Though they couldn't see her face, Simon could. "Long time no see, Class President."
It was Jamie Victoria, the honorary class president of A-Class. He felt a pang of disappointment at the thought that he wouldn't see her famous, eager hand-raise anymore.
"Oh, please. 'Class President' is so last year," Jamie said with a shy laugh, playfully slapping Simon's arm. She then turned to greet Dick warmly.
"So, Class President, where are you headed?" Dick asked.
At this party, that question could only mean one thing: which department she would choose in the upcoming selection.
"Me? Cursology, of course."
At her answer, Dick shook his head with mock pity. "That's too bad. A sad farewell to your crush, Hector..."
'Aaargh! Aaaaaaaaaargh!' Jamie shrieked, lunging forward to clamp a hand over his mouth.
Meirin giggled. "You're cute, Class President."
"Hey! Meirin! You told him, didn't you!"
"What are you talking about?" Meirin feigned aloofness, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Why blame me when you and Hector are the only two people in A-Class who don't know?"
'Ugh,' if I'm going down, I'm taking you with me," Jamie muttered. She cast a 'Silence' curse on Dick, then approached Meirin with a mischievous grin. "Hey everyone, aren't you curious who Meirin likes...?"
"Hey!" This time, it was Meirin's face that turned beet red as she lunged at Jamie. The party was as lively as ever.
Simon mingled, greeting others like Cindy Vivace and Claudia Mendes from A-Class. He even exchanged nods with Scott Snyder, a student whose face he knew but had never spoken to.
'Ooh,' Four-Hundred Dick! Looking sharp!" Scott jeered. The nickname, which he had invented three seconds prior, was a jab at Dick's final ranking. The students behind him snickered.
'Tsk. Tsk, tsk, tsk,' Dick clicked his tongue, wagging a finger condescendingly. "Life at Kizen isn't all about numbers. But then again, what would 'regular students' know?"
"That's not very convincing coming from number 400," Scott shot back.
"Ah, these 'regular students' are really testing my patience. Should I just spill it?"
Just as Dick was about to launch a counterattack, he was shoved from behind with a heavy 'thump'.
"Hey, who was that?" Dick snapped, turning around. "Watch where you're..." His words died in his throat with a 'gulp'.
Broad shoulders, a muscular physique, and piercing eyes. A man built like a mountain was glaring down at him.
"Get lost," Hector Moore, Rank 3, growled.
Dick grumbled under his breath about him being as rude as ever. Simon, standing beside him, tensed slightly.
But then...
Hector walked right past Simon without a single word.
"Huh," Dick said, blinking. "Was that a world first?"
"What was?"
"Hector not picking a fight with you. Is this an omen? Are five suns going to rise tomorrow?"
Simon watched Hector's retreating back. It was unclear if Hector hadn't seen him or had simply chosen to ignore him, but he walked on and began talking with students from another faction.
'Well, whatever,' Simon thought with a quiet sigh. 'I gave him the showdown he wanted at the end of last year. I guess there's no reason to fight anymore.'
Hector slammed himself into a chair and drained a glass of wine.
"Tor, Tor, Hector..." the girls from his faction cooed, gathering around the table.
"What's wrong? Why did you just walk past Simon Polentia?" one of them asked.
"...Shut up," Hector gritted out, slamming the wine glass down. "It's driving me crazy just trying to hold back as it is."
The party grew more boisterous, and the hall became impossibly crowded. Simon had somehow gotten separated from Meirin and Kamibarez, and Dick was nowhere to be seen. Left on his own, Simon was quickly cornered.
"Simon! What did you do during the break?"
"I helped my father with his work and trained a little..."
"Really? I helped my dad, too! We have so much in common..."
"Simon! What are you doing this weekend?"
Four female students had surrounded him.
"From Special Admission No. 1 to Rank 1! That's incredible!"
"Can you tutor me, too?"
"Are you interested in anyone?"
The questions came in a relentless barrage. A sheen of sweat formed on the back of Simon's neck.
'This is... overwhelming.'
For a simple boy who had spent sixteen years in the mountains, this was far too much. Normally, Meirin, the undisputed queen bee, would have growled and kept them at bay, but she was gone. He tried to excuse himself to the restroom, but the girls physically held onto his arms, their chatter an inescapable net.
"So, just to be clear, you're not dating anyone right now?" the most aggressive of the group, a blonde, asked with a wink.
At Kizen, connections were a form of power. It was only natural to try and secure them before the brutal second year began. And if the top-ranked student, who seemed hopelessly naive, was still single... well, not taking that chance would be foolish.
She gave a seductive smile and slowly loosened his tie. Her own buttons were deliberately undone, and she watched with amusement as Simon's face turned red. Boys his age were such pitiful creatures, so easily flustered. She could play with him as she pleased.
"Simon, why are you looking away?"
"No, it's just..."
"Did you know?" she leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "At the department party later, the third-years are going to make us perform a talent." Her tongue flickered out, and she shifted, ensuring he got a full whiff of her perfume. "I prepared one."
She put on a shy expression, her lips brushing against his ear. "Want a private showing?"
"No, wait—!"
Suddenly, the girl's left hand shot up and slapped her own chin. Her other hand went to the side of her head. Then, scratching her scalp like a dullard, she began to chant.
'Ukikki! Ukikkikki!'
Simon stared, utterly bewildered. She was imitating a monkey. With her back bent and legs spread, she performed a pathetic little dance. The other three girls joined in, hopping away from Simon while chanting, 'Ukikki, ukikki!'
"How utterly low-class."
The sharp 'click-clack' of heels on the floor cut through the din. A girl with long, flowing ivory hair and a slender figure approached. A mole under her eye and the bright, knowing smile on her lips gave her an air of untouchable elegance.
"The desperate struggles of salmon, flopping their way upstream to improve their station," she mused. "It's vulgar, but also a little pitiful."
She stopped in front of Simon. Instantly, a swarm of male students rushed over, setting up a chair for her, placing a table between them, and promptly arranging it with food, wine, and snacks. An unseen hand guided Simon back into his own seat, placing a wine glass and a fresh napkin before him. She, however, accepted the service as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" she purred.
"Serne...!"
A wine glass was placed in her hand as she settled into her chair with a haughty little sniff.
"As expected," Serne began, resting her chin in her hand, her eyes crinkling into a sweet, cunning smile. "It's so much more comfortable when people of the same class are together, isn't it?"

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