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Under the clear spring sun, cherry blossoms drifted across the road leading to Fujimi Academy. Students naturally stepped aside, casting different kinds of looks.
And there she was. Saeko Busujima, wooden sword in hand, her icy aura as sharp as ever, walked past them without a word, petals swirling in her wake as she strode toward school.
It took a long while before the other students snapped out of it and continued walking.
Ever since she'd injected the genetic serum, not only had her figure changed, but her whole aura had become sharper, harder to pin down. Add to that her reputation as the captain of Fujimi Academy's kendo club, and it was no wonder she was known as the academy's untouchable ice queen.
"Idiots. How dare they stare at my Saeko like that."
As she walked, Venom's annoyed voice grumbled in her head. Saeko could only smile helplessly in response.
"Still, lately… when I'm swinging my sword, something feels off."
Her voice softened, almost like she was confiding in a friend. No matter how much she trained, it felt like she was missing something.
"Could be a breakthrough coming. It's kinda mystical stuff—I don't really know either."
Venom mused. From what it remembered, this kind of feeling usually came before advancing to a higher level.
"You're already at a master's level. Once you push through, you'll be stepping into grandmaster territory."
"I'll keep pushing myself," Saeko said quietly, nodding to herself.
"Help! Somebody help me!"
Before they could continue the discussion, Saeko's sharp hearing picked up a cry for help from the distance.
She spun around instantly. With one light leap, she cleared two meters, then dashed across the streets with startling speed.
In a narrow alley, a pink-haired girl with twin ponytails, dressed in the Fujimi Academy uniform, was cornered by a group of thugs. She had nowhere to run.
The girl's back hit the wall. She spun around, pressing against the cold surface, eyes wide with terror as the men advanced slowly, grins stretching across their faces.
She cursed herself. If only she hadn't interfered, she wouldn't have ended up trapped like this.
Her name was Saya Takagi. A first-year at Fujimi Academy's high school division, she had just enrolled this year. On her way to class, she had stumbled across these thugs harassing someone—and, with her usual temper, tried to lecture them. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
"Stay back! If you touch me, my dad will make you pay!"
Saya forced her voice to sound strong, even as fear quivered at the edges. Her father would definitely punish them if they dared lay a hand on her—at least, she hoped so.
As she spoke, her generous chest bounced nervously with each breath.
"Don't care who your old man is. We'll have our fun first."
The men licked their lips, their eyes glued to her trembling curves. They sneered at her words, completely unimpressed.
Her heart sank. "D-don't come any closer! My dad's rich—whatever you want, he can give it to you!"
She was already regretting everything.
"Relax, sweetheart. Uncle here will be gentle."
Their eyes gleamed as they raised their hands, inching closer and closer.
"Help me!"
Saya screamed as the men lunged, squeezing her eyes shut in terror.
The next thing she heard were a few agonized screams. Blinking her eyes open in confusion, she saw something that made her expression shift.
The men who had been bouncing around so full of energy just moments ago were now sprawled on the ground, writhing in pain.
At the center of it all stood Saeko Busujima, calmly lowering the wooden sword in her hand.
"Get lost. Don't let me see you again."
Her voice was soft, but the words carried like a blade cutting through the alley air.
The men on the ground scrambled to their feet the moment they heard her, bolting in every direction.
In the blink of an eye, only Takagi Saya and Saeko were left in the narrow alleyway.
"Be more careful next time."
Saeko turned to look at Saya, who was frozen in place. Thinking the girl was paralyzed with fear, she gave a quiet word of comfort before turning to leave.
Moments later, Saya rushed out of the alley, only to realize Saeko had already vanished.
"She looked like she goes to the same school as me… probably my upperclassman."
Standing there, Saya replayed the image of the girl's uniform in her head. It was definitely Fujimi Academy's. That meant she was a student there too.
Saya exhaled, adjusted her bag, and started walking back toward school.
If they were at the same academy, then sooner or later, they'd cross paths again.
…
"Why do I feel like I've seen that girl somewhere before?"
On her way to school, Saeko suddenly heard Venom's voice echo in her mind.
"Girl? You mean the one from just now?"
"Yeah. She looks kinda familiar."
Venom sounded uncertain, as if trying to place a face buried under mountains of old memories. With thousands upon thousands of memories crammed into his mind, recalling one face wasn't so simple.
"Maybe you're just mistaken. She was wearing a Fujimi Academy uniform too, after all."
Saeko thought for a moment before answering. Mistaking her for someone else wasn't impossible.
"Could be. Anyway, if I'm not wrong, she's a first-year."
Venom dropped the subject quickly, moving on to idle chatter.
Saeko nodded. "That makes her our junior then."
"Yeah… looks like a new school year's about to get interesting."
"....."