Chapter Five: No Pain No Gain
Rumors spread quickly.
About a certain freshman who, after only a day of arriving in Raizen, challenged the Kendo Club President.
Which… by the way, was false.
He did not challenge; he was challenged.
"So, after we both parted ways, you did what? Challenged the Kendo Club President?"
Tonomachi sat on the table in front of Morgan's desk, asking with raised eyebrows.
On the other hand, Morgan calmly shook his head.
"I was challenged. Not the other way around."
"Potatoes, potatoes. Whichever way you butcher the pronunciation, it's still talking about the same thing, no?"
Tonomachi countered back, prompting Morgan to stagger a bit.
But regardless, despite the piercing gaze from his classmates, he decided to pay it no mind.
Naturally, that whole "Vice President" nonsense was only in name.
Honestly, the whole thing just reminded him of something unpleasant.
'... what am I doing here?'
Right.
He knew his goal was to get stronger. At the very least, he's trying his best in the physical department.
After all,
One can't just pray and be suddenly granted powers. Unfortunately, this world doesn't work that way.
You want powers?
Sure. But you'll pay the price for it.
Not to mention, his own idea of getting stronger is by using the system the Anti Spirit Team members use.
'... not that I also expect that to be easy, too.'
In a sense,
This was much akin to reincarnating in a world like Dragonic Deus.
He didn't hate his status as a background character.
Maybe he was being paranoid about it.
No. It wasn't paranoia.
It was normal—completely normal—to feel anxious in a place where anything could threaten your life,
directly or indirectly.
Imagine trying to enjoy an ordinary school day when a certain crazy Spirit suddenly decided to drain the entire school's life force.
Yeah, no thanks.
And even if he avoided school on that day… what was next? Oh boy, a whole lot of fun events waiting for him.
By no means are these events actually "fun".
"Tonomachi, Morgan-san, good morning."
A voice jolted Morgan out of his thoughts. He turned to look at him. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
It was Shidou with a smile.
Judging from the way he strode past them to his seat, he probably hadn't heard the rumors.
… but instead, he dragged the chair against the floor, settling on it, hanging his bag on the hook by the side of the desk.
Once more, Morgan scrutinized him.
'I have no idea whether to say he's reliable or unreliable.'
One thing was for sure, though.
Shidou has his work cut out for him.
While it may be a skill issue on Morgan's part. Seriously, he can't deadass handle willful women like the spirits.
If you'd ask Morgan,
'It's a pain.'
At least, in that respect, he respected Shidou.
For all his awkwardness, Shidou somehow managed to hold that impossible line between empathy and restraint.
"Hm? What's up?"
Noticing Morgan staring at him, narrowing his eyes and changing expression, a habit of Morgan's, by the way.
… Shidou turned to him.
"Don't worry, pardon me."
"I see."
Morgan shook his head, offering a polite smile. Shidou tilted his head slightly in return before shrugging it off.
Homeroom was starting soon. Realizing that, everyone dispersed to their seats in preparation for it.
As they did, Morgan brought out a notepad, tapping his pen on one of its pages in thought.
'Let's revise.'
Originally, this was a plan he was going to attempt in the States.
Whether he was here or over there, it didn't matter.
Since location wasn't really a problem. However, when he had just begun drafting this plan, that was when he was called over.
'Now then. My plan consists of three phases.'
First off was acquiring an old model PC.
With the little time he'd spent in this world, he'd realized something. … how to put it in perspective?
In short, it would be.
The internet isn't safe at all.
Normally, with this level of technology, one would assume network security would be airtight.
But it was only secure on the surface. Underneath, people's data was practically exposed.
Especially considering that DEM had its hand in almost everything that happened worldwide.
As if that wasn't bad enough, his second step made things even riskier.
The underground market.
… it has got Morgan thinking.
At the very least, one or two, either damaged or undamaged, with the possibility of a Realizer in the hands of others.
DEM is crazy, but people can be crazy too.
The chances were slim.
Incredibly, but Morgan wasn't going to give up as long as he hadn't tried.
Lastly, it was.
'How to realize.'
Or, in better words, how to use a Realizer.
How to use a Realizer without the need of undergoing that damned surgery of implanting one into his head?
… that's the hurdle.
And that got him also thinking; it was possible and at the same, it also had him thinking, how tough it would be.
But, naturally?
'Out of everything I've seen in this world, the only thing that interested me the most was how Westcott was able to spawn Origin.'
Morgan tapped the notepad again.
At some point,
Tama-chan had entered the classroom, but even as they greeted her, Morgan did everything on pure afterthought.
Settling back down, he resumed scribbling.
He circled the words "old PC" in his notebook.
'An outdated system that doesn't sync with the new, trackable network and neural-link.'
'With a few tweaks, an old IP could access the buried sites.'
Plus, it is also disposable.
Just in case.
But whether the dark web still existed or not… that would have to wait and see.
Then again, to get that PC in the first place would require his help.
Morgan's gaze narrowed, sharpening on Tonomachi's figure in front of him.
"Pstt–"
"...ey. Morgan-san."
Again, suddenly jolted from thought, Morgan blinked and turned toward Shidou, who was pointing to the front of the room.
Slowly, he followed the gesture—
"Care to explain to the class what you were thinking about during my lecture?"
"How the theory of relativity works."
"...Eh?"
It was the physics teacher, standing with an incredulous glare.
Fortunately for Morgan, his deception tactics worked beautifully.
If one thought about it, understanding how Realizers functioned required a strong foundation in mathematics and physics anyway.
"What brought this on?"
"No. I was just thinking about it."
"Hou? Interesting, what would you like to know?"
The teacher adjusted his glasses, the lenses glinting with a sharp white sheen.
Morgan sighed inwardly.
Perhaps he should stop doing this.
Clearly, his attempts at deflection were starting to backfire.
"No, I was just thinking about it."
To keep the teacher off him, he raised his right hand curtly.
Deflated, the man's shoulder slouched slightly.
"I–I see."
Saying that, he walked off with less energy and intensity than he originally started with when staring at him.
Phew.
"That was close."
Morgan mouthed.
In the end, he was left unbothered, using the little focus he could give to focus on the class.
However,
Morning classes soon ended.
"Fuu~"
Morgan sighed, looking at the blue skies from the window.
It's been three days, huh?
Well, at the very least, he's adjusting, and that's progress as far as he's concerned.
"Uhm."
Morgan blinked, turning to his side; there, he saw Shidou with a somewhat nervous smile with a sweatdrop.
On his desk was presumed to be his lunch, but what was— 'Oh.'
Tobiichi Origami.
She was looking over with a dedicated and intense gaze, straight at him.
"You have it rough, buddy."
With a low murmur, perhaps enough for Shidou to hear it, Morgan mouthed.
But his comment immediately earned a turn of his head from the male.
"... hahaha."
It was a weak laugh that came out from Shidou.
"Yo Shidou, I see you came prepared again. Woah! Looks delicious."
Tonomachi, once again, which for some odd reason has been really frequenting around him and Shidou more than he knew.
Perhaps, this was probably his way of interaction.
For all he knows, both of them go way back, so it wasn't odd.
…and he had to admit.
Just from the outline and the faint fragrance, Shidou was a good cook. …right, he usually cooked for his sister too.
Unfortunately for Morgan.
"And… eewh. Yaksoba-pan?"
Placing the snack on his desk with a flat expression was Morgan while Tonomachi looked over in horror.
"Oi, oi, oi, you had that yesterday and the day before. Don't you cook?"
"Cook?"
Morgan tilted his head to the sides.
Aaa. Now that he thinks about it, he's a bad cook. Every attempt at cooking turns into a disaster.
However, in exchange for bad cooking skills….
"Don't worry, my body won't get affected by this level of junk consumption."
"Morgan-san, what's your eating schedule?"
Already leaving Origami back moments ago was Shidou also asking that with an exasperated expression.
"Uhm. Instant noodles, take out, delivery… that's pretty much it."
"That's insane."
Shidou almost shouted.
But then again, he looked at Morgan for a moment, scrutinizing him.
"If your balanced diet is that screwed… how did you manage to take down that 'gorilla'?"
Adjusting the seat in front of Shidou to face his desk, Tonomachi spun towards him, eating mouthfuls between words.
"Gorilla? You mean."
"Haruka, I'm talking about her."
"No way."
Both males had an exasperated expression questioning its possibility. But more than them—
… he felt another gaze on him.
Fierce and strong.
Morgan didn't need to tilt his head over. He knew who that was. Sure enough, it was Origami.
'Hou?'
With his lips pressed thin, he was about to make a comment when:
Chills.
He suddenly flinched. There was a great disturbance in the air, and its intensity suddenly doubled.
"Tonomachi, Shidou, I'll make you two pay if you rat me out."
Locating a stand-alone locker, tall enough to fit someone of his height,
essentially the place where the equipment for cleaning the classroom was kept: brooms, mops, buckets, and the like.
However, at this moment, Morgan could care less about decency; he immediately flew into it, locking it.
"...?"
Shidou and Tonimachi tilted their heads.
What's the matter, they seemed to think; however, in the next moments,
Shiickk!
"WHERE IS—!?"
A loud resounding voice, which may or may not have caused Tonomachi to choke on his food, resounded.
*Cough cough*
"Hou? I thought I sensed him here."
She muttered to herself.
It was Haruka.
Naturally, her presence surprised those left in the classroom as they all spun their heads towards her.
Ignoring the dying Tonomachi, Shidou could now reason why he said those words.
"Anyone know where Sinclair is?"
All eyes turned to Shidou.
He blinked once, then slowly shook his head.
The rest followed suit like synchronized puppets.
Haruka stared for a moment, with a blank expression then she let out a quiet, defeated sigh after looking around.
"...Tch. Escaped, huh?"
Her shoulders slumped.
With a single turn on her heel, she trudged out of the classroom, muttering under her breath with a frown.