The break bell rang loudly throughout the school floors. Nova and Kazui had just come out of their classroom.
"Hey, why are you following me?" Nova turned to Kazui, looking at him with a flat expression.
"Following you what? We're both going to the cafeteria for lunch," Kazui answered while smiling casually, his hands tucked into his pants pockets.
Nova let out a long sigh. "You're right, but... aren't we too close? We just met today."
"Haha, come on, Bro. You look very stiff. Just relax, won't you?" Kazui laughed while lightly patting Nova's shoulder.
"Whatever you want to say," Nova shrugged indifferently. *This person doesn't seem to have any bad intentions, so whatever.*
The two of them walked along the corridor toward the stairs. Nova went down the stairs with calm steps.
Upon reaching the cafeteria on the ground floor, Nova immediately headed to the food pickup area. Suddenly her steps stopped when she saw three familiar figures already sitting at one of the long tables.
"Ah, big sister! Looks like you came late today, huh?" That cheerful voice came from a girl who was balancing a tray containing food and drinks. That was Lunar, Nova's younger sister.
Nova placed the tray on the long table and looked at her sister.
"Shut up, that's none of your business," Nova answered in a flat tone.
"Oh, hi Nova," Ena greeted with a warm smile. Ena was sitting next to Noah, Nova's younger brother who was busy playing with his spoon.
"Ah, hi Ena," Nova replied awkwardly.
Lunar frowned while looking at her older sister with an incredulous stare. "What's that? Why do you still look so stiff? This isn't the first time you two have met."
"Can you be quiet?"
Kazui, who was watching this family interaction from the side, just smiled in amusement. "Hmm, are they your siblings?"
"Yes, they're both my siblings. This is Noah," Nova pointed at the boy who was still focused on his food, "and this is Lunar." She then pointed to the girl who had teased her earlier. "And this is Ena, my sibling's friend."
Lunar was immediately interested and looked at Kazui with sparkling eyes. "Hmm, who are you? Are you big sister's friend?"
"Ah, that's right. I'm her new friend, my name is Kazui," Kazui answered with a light laugh.
"I don't remember ever considering you my friend," Nova answered with her usual flat face.
"Hey, come on! We already know each other, that means we're friends, right?" Kazui tried to defend himself while putting on an exaggerated pitiful expression.
"I don't think that's reason enough to consider me your friend," Nova stuck to her stance.
"Bro, have you never had friends all this time?" Kazui asked with a serious face.
Lunar suddenly chimed in enthusiastically, "That's right! My older sister has never had friends since childhood, even back in elementary school."
"Can you be quiet!" Nova immediately pulled both of her sister's cheeks.
"Stop! We're at school now and my food will spill!" Lunar protested while trying to protect her tray.
A few moments later, they all finally sat together at the long table. Nova and Kazui had already gotten their food and drinks. The cafeteria atmosphere was quite lively with the chatter of other students.
"Hey Noah, are you going to play at my house again tonight?" Ena started the conversation.
"What for? And also why do I always have to play at your house? Why don't you just play at my house? Besides, your mom and my mom have known each other for a long time," Noah replied.
"Don't want to, it's boring at your house. There you'll definitely just want to play PS and not pay attention to me."
"Are you lonely because of that?" Noah said with a flat face.
"I'm not! If you don't want to come then fine, don't come," Ena sounded annoyed.
"I think if I don't come it'll be more troublesome later, so it's better if I come," Noah said.
"What will be more troublesome?" Ena looked annoyed, but not too serious.
"Hm, nothing. I think it's better we eat our food now," Noah diverted the conversation.
"You're not trying to change the subject, are you?"
"If you think so then fine, what can I do?" Noah said while smiling.
"Noah, you're so dumb!" Ena said that but didn't really look angry at Noah.
"Are they always like this?" Kazui whispered to Nova. "Don't they realize they're at school now? They seem to only live in their own world right now."
"No, they're always like that. Just get used to it," Lunar answered casually. "Besides, our mother doesn't allow us to date while still in school. Doing adult things like that is also not allowed, except for normal things like holding hands."
"I see, so you live with strict family rules, huh?" Kazui asked while scooping his rice.
"Rules?" Nova raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it's rules. It's more about keeping relationships healthier."
"Keeping relationships healthy, huh... haha, that's an interesting way," Kazui laughed softly while nodding.
After finishing their lunch, the bell signaling the class change rang. They separated to go to their respective classes.
◇◇◇
Boys' Locker Room,
The locker room atmosphere was quite quiet because most students had already finished changing into their sports clothes. Nova and Kazui were the last to enter this room.
"I wonder, is a physical education class really necessary after finishing with regular classes?" Nova said while opening his locker.
"I think it's necessary," Kazui answered, taking off his school uniform. "If we just keep studying, our brains will get saturated. Whereas physical education class can make our physical bodies stronger and healthier."
"Yeah, yeah, I know that, but I think things like this can be done at home or at the park, right?" Nova answered in a resigned tone while opening his locker door. He wasn't really looking for an answer, just expressing his thoughts.
When Nova started taking off his shirt, Kazui suddenly fell silent. His eyes widened in shock seeing Nova's upper body covered with scars. Lines of healed burn marks and cuts stretched across his skin.
"Hey, where did those scars on your body come from?" Kazui asked, his voice filled with curiosity. He pointed at those scars.
"Scars, huh... I don't know, I don't really remember," Nova answered while continuing to change his clothes. He didn't want to discuss it.
*There's no way I can tell him I got all these scars from fighting that vampire at age 12, right?* Nova thought to himself.
"Hmm, looks like you don't want to tell. I guess that's normal, after all we just met," Kazui said understandingly. Although his curiosity was still burning, he chose to respect Nova's privacy.
Suddenly, the sound of commotion was heard from outside the locker room. The sound of shouting and arguing getting louder made them both turn toward the door.
"Looks like he's causing trouble again," Kazui let out a long sigh while speeding up changing his clothes.
"Causing trouble again?" Nova asked confusedly, his face showing slight bewilderment.
"Yeah, let's go out now," Kazui said while rushing toward the door, without giving Nova a chance to ask further.
Locker Room Corridor,
As soon as they exited the locker room, they saw a student pressing another student against the wall. Small flames danced in his right palm.
"Hurry up and give me your money!" that loud voice came from a student named Reno.
"I... I don't have money," the pressed student answered stammering, his body trembling with fear.
"Hah? You think I didn't see the money you were holding earlier? Well then, I'll take it myself!" Reno said while enlarging the flame in his hand. The fire blazed fiercely, threatening the frightened student.
"No... this is my money! I won't give my money to you, why should I give my money to you, can't you find money yourself in a better way?!" the student tried to protect his pocket with both hands.
"You're just a kid who has nothing but money, that's why you have to do what I want, do you understand? Now hurry up and give the money to someone stronger than you!"
"I won't, I won't give it!"
"You're really making me angry now!" Reno raised his right hand blazing with fire, ready to punch the student's face.
However, suddenly his hand was stopped by someone. Kazui appeared and held Reno's wrist tightly.
"Reno, you really haven't changed, huh? You'd go that far to rob someone else's money?" Kazui said in a calm voice.
"You!" Reno growled angrily. "I think you'd better not interfere in this matter. You'd better just take care of your mother who's in the hospital, who'll die soon!"
Reno tried to punch Kazui with his flaming hand, but Kazui easily dodged the attack.
"Your mouth is still dirty. Don't you have family who taught you manners?" Kazui said calmly. "Oh yeah, I forgot. You don't have family. Your father killed your mother because he gambled too much and was in debt, until he went insane."
"YOU!!!" Reno completely lost control and attacked Kazui recklessly.
But Kazui remained calm. With a smooth movement, he hit Reno's stomach with his right knee. The hit was strong enough to make Reno fall backward while holding his aching stomach.
"Look at yourself. Looks like you want to be like your father, huh?" Kazui said while straightening his clothes.
*This person... he's so calm even though his family has been insulted like that,* Nova thought to himself while observing Kazui. He didn't expect Kazui to have such a calm side.
"Shut up! You poor fool who doesn't know your place! You'd better die together with your mother at the hospital!" Reno shouted while getting up with difficulty.
"You're the same as me, you know?"
"Don't compare me with you, I'm different from you!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you want to say. I don't care at all," Kazui answered casually while walking toward the exit. "I don't want to waste my time with someone like you, it'll only make me become like you later."
"YOU!!!"
"Let's go, Nova. Just leave someone like him," Kazui said while signaling Nova to follow him.
The student who was almost robbed of his money had already fled from the place earlier, taking advantage of the opportunity when Reno's attention was diverted.
Nova started walking following Kazui, but when passing Reno, suddenly Reno smiled cunningly and attacked him from the side. Reno's hand blazing with fire aimed at Nova's face.
Kazui who saw that immediately moved to stop Reno, but Nova was faster. Instead of Nova getting hit, Nova punched Reno's stomach hard enough to make Reno bounce and lie on the floor.
Kazui looked shocked seeing that.
"You... it seems you really like to pick fights with people, huh," Nova said in a flat tone, staring at Reno who was still lying down. "I'll only tell you this once, if you still dare to bother me there's no more mercy from me."
Then Nova walked away from Reno just like that, as if nothing had happened.
"Woah, turns out you can fight, huh?" Kazui said while catching up with Nova with quick steps. His eyes sparkled with admiration. "By the way, what power did you awaken? I'll tell you, I have light power, but using that power really makes me tired quickly."
"Awaken power? Unfortunately, I haven't awakened my power at all," Nova answered while walking toward the sports field.
"Hah? Hey, don't joke! There's no way a human who hasn't awakened their power could make someone with fire power like Reno fall like that?" Kazui didn't believe Nova's answer.
"Unfortunately, that's the fact," Nova answered calmly.
"Haah... it seems I still really can't believe what you're saying," Kazui shook his head.
"Whether you want to believe it or not is up to you," Nova shrugged indifferently.
Sports Field,
They finally arrived at the wide sports field. On the field there were already many students doing various sports activities. Nova could see Noah, Ena, and Lunar who were busy with a female teacher along with other students.
"Alright, forget about earlier. Now we've arrived at the field. By the way, we can play anything we want. Are you interested in playing ball or other sports?" Kazui asked while stretching his body.
"I prefer running around this field," Nova said while getting ready to warm up.
"Just say you're shy to interact with other people, that's why you prefer running. Because running can be done alone without needing friends," Kazui teased while smiling mischievously.
"Unfortunately, I'm really not interested in doing anything other than running. If you want to join, go ahead. If not, then fine," Nova answered honestly while starting to stretch.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll join. No way I'd leave my friend to run alone," Kazui said while also warming up.
"I still don't know whether we can be considered friends yet or not," Nova said while glancing at Kazui.
"Of course we're already friends! If we weren't friends, no way would I bother to run together?" Kazui laughed while patting Nova's back.