Monday morning arrived with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere that seemed to cling to the school gates.
The weekend's events—the street fight, the acquisition of his new skill, and the encounter with the invisible predator—had changed the rhythm of Taro's heart.
He stood by the concrete pillar of the entrance, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his eyes scanning every face that passed through the gates.
He was waiting for the only guy he knew that can help him.
And as he stood there, he intentionally ignored the curious and mocking gazes of the other students.
Even when the "Goddesses" of the school arrived—Rindou with her regal stride, Touka with her newfound brightness, and Haruka with her cold, mechanical precision—Taro kept his head down.
He acted as if he didn't even perceive them, a stark contrast to the way he used to ogle them from the shadows.
Internally, however, he was a wreck.
