The old clock above the chalkboard ticked lazily, each second dragging like it had better things to do.
Classroom 218 was unusually empty, with only two occupants.
One was a stocky middle-aged man in a dark blue uniform—none other than the front gate's security guard. His posture was stiff, his face blank, as if he'd been carved out of stone.
The other was a boy. Fourteen. Jam-stained white T-shirt. Messy brown hair that looked like it lost a fight with a pillow. His brown eyes were full of restless mischief.
Rudolph Greywick.
"So… uh… what exactly am I doing here?" Rudolph asked, sprawled across his chair. He tapped his pencil on the desk like he was trying to drum out a song.
"..."
No answer.
The guard's fingers scratched at his forearm, slow and deliberate, leaving faint red lines. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flicked toward Rudolph, sharp but silent.
Rudolph leaned back. "Oookay… so did I do something wrong? Or am I just here for my natural charm?"
Still no answer.
"Man, tough crowd." Rudolph rubbed his chin. "Oh! Speaking of faces, wouldn't it be hilarious if I could like—bam—change my face? I'd scare you so bad you'd fall outta that chair."
The guard's lips didn't so much as twitch.
"Not funny, huh? Yeah, tough crowd confirmed. Okay, okay…" Rudolph leaned forward, folding his arms on the desk. "How about you, I dunno, turn that frown upside down? A little smile? A little sparkle? C'mon, you'll feel better."
"..."
Finally losing patience, Rudolph marched up, grabbed the man's cheeks, and pinched. "Like this. Watch—stretch it out. Up, up—smiiile—"
The guard's eyes flickered. For a brief second, a faint yellow light pulsed in his pupils, glowing like smoldering embers.
"Get away!" he snapped, shoving Rudolph backward.
"Whoa!" Rudolph stumbled a few steps and caught himself on a desk.
The air smelled faintly… burnt? He glanced down at his T-shirt. Right where the guard had shoved him, the cotton had a small blackened tear—like it had been scorched.
"…Huh? Did I just… get burned? From a push?" He rubbed the spot. No pain. No heat. Nothing. "Weird. Didn't even feel it. Cool trick, though. Could've at least warned me."
The guard shifted uncomfortably, as if ashamed or trying to suppress something.
Rudolph squinted at him, then shrugged. "So, uh… you know when Teach is coming back?"
"I don't know," the guard muttered, his voice oddly strained.
"Oh." Rudolph clapped his hands together. "Well, free period for me. Win-win. Teach doesn't deal with me, I don't deal with teach. Truly, the dream."
He plopped back into his seat, kicked his feet up on the desk, and whistled tunelessly, though his eyes kept flicking back toward the guard's faintly glowing stare.
***
Meanwhile in the realm of the mist.
The air here was heavy, thick with a strange sweet chill that clung to the lungs. Mist curled like living smoke, shifting into vague shapes before dissolving again.
Mr. Kay rummaged inside his oversized coat, pulling out not one but two small cartons of milk—one plain, one chocolate.
He grinned like a street magician revealing a trick. "Here we go! Extra supplies."
Leo, still drenched from earlier, blinked at him. "Wait—seriously? Milk? That's what you're hoarding right now?!"
"Of course," Mr. Kay said proudly. "We should be heading back now. We've been here a while. And besides, our next class is about to start."
Leo nearly choked. "Wait. Hold up. Did you just say next class? As in… fifth period?"
"Yup!" Mr. Kay gave a thumbs up, cheerful as ever.
Leo froze. "No way. That's impossible. We've been here like… what, twenty minutes? Half an hour max. Don't tell me time in this place works differently! That's—it's—it's literally manga logic!"
"Who knows?" Mr. Kay shrugged, unfazed.
Leo dragged his hands down his face. "Unbelievable. First me seing things in the mirror,then a creepy umbrella girl, now time-warping mist dimensions. "
"Oh, and don't forget—make sure you drink that milk whenever you can."
Leo stared at the carton. "...You've got to be kidding me. Out of all the cryptic advice you could give—drink milk? That's it?"
"I promise it'll help."
"Yeah, yeah." Leo stuffed it under his arm, muttering. "Next thing you'll tell me is it unlocks superpowers or wards off curses. Do I look like I'm starring in some kind of battle shounen series!"
"Oh!" Leo said tapping his foot"Before we go—please, do me a favor and put on some pants."
"Huh?Well would you look at that,it seems I still don't have them fully on."Mr.Kay replied with a pair of pants by his feet.
Leo then groaned. "...That's because you never had them fully on in the first place."