The Academy gates loomed before me like the jaws of a beast. Tall marble arches carved with angel wings, banners fluttering in the wind, students laughing and talking in groups.
And then silence.
As I walked through the gate, every single head turned. Conversations froze mid-sentence. Someone even dropped their lunch.
Whiskerdoom muttered from my shoulder bag, muffled under my scarf.
"Ah, yes. Nothing says welcome like an entire crowd wishing you were already dead."
I forced a smile. "It's… fine. They're just curious."
"Curious? Boy, they're looking at you like you strangled their god in broad daylight."
He wasn't wrong. The stares weren't curious—they were hostile, suspicious, even frightened. A group of second-years near the fountain whispered in low voices:
> "Is that him?"
"The villain's face… the same eyes…"
"I heard he killed his whole village!"
What?! I nearly tripped over the steps. Killed my whole village? I didn't even have a village—I had an apartment with unpaid rent back in the real world!
I kept walking, pretending I didn't hear. The crowd parted like I carried the plague.
That's when a cheerful voice rang out:
"Hey! Riel!"
My heart stopped.
A boy with golden hair, bright eyes, and the kind of smile that could launch a thousand flags was waving at me—like we were best friends.
Eren.
The Hero himself.
"Over here!" he called, jogging up with a hand raised.
The silence around us deepened, then exploded into a storm of whispers.
"The Hero knows him?!"
"Why is Eren talking to that guy?"
"No way—are they close?"
I wanted the earth to swallow me whole.
"Uh… hi," I managed, raising a weak hand. "You, uh… know my name?"
Eren laughed, clapping me on the shoulder with terrifying familiarity. "Of course! We're classmates now, right? No reason to be strangers."
He said it so easily, so brightly, like there wasn't a sea of angry, horrified faces around us.
Whiskerdoom groaned from the bag.
"Congratulations. You've just been officially marked as the Hero's weird new friend. Enjoy your execution notice."
And he wasn't exaggerating. The glares were sharp enough to cut steel. I could almost hear their thoughts:
"Why is the Hero protecting the villain?
He's dangerous. He doesn't belong here.
We won't forgive him."
I swallowed hard. My first day at the Academy, and I was already public enemy number one.
Eren, of course, didn't notice. He just grinned wider.
"Come on, let me show you around! I'll introduce you to everyone!"
Everyone? No. Please no.
But it was too late. The Hero had already grabbed my arm and started dragging me into the lion's den.
The classrooms were just as bad. The professor hesitated when she saw my name on the roster. Students scooted their chairs away when I sat down. Notes were passed, eyes kept darting at me, whispers hissed like snakes.
And then Eren leaned over with a friendly smile.
"You'll get used to it, Aki. People just don't know you yet. I'll vouch for you."
I stared at him.
Bro. You vouching for me is the problem.
At this rate, I wasn't just the villain. I was the villain who somehow tricked the Hero into being his buddy.
Exactly the kind of setup where, in every story, things went horribly, horribly wrong.
Whiskerdoom's voice rumbled in my bag, smug and resigned.
"Day one, and you've already destroyed your reputation. Record speed. I'm almost impressed."
And for once… I agreed with him.