CHAPTER 53 - Second Special Test. Part 3.
(Pov - Kaeyko.)
Wow, I ended up in the same cabin as Saik. If what's going around is true, it means Saik managed to expel another student just by hearing a camera. If the student council president said it, it must be true.
I knew that guy was dangerous, but he's even more dangerous than I imagined. I shouldn't make an enemy of him, but I also can't get close to him and befriend him.
Tanya has forbidden us from making him angry, but she's also forbidden us from being his friend. I'd rather avoid trouble with that girl, so I'll follow her orders.
For someone without friends like me, sticking to that is easy.
I hate obeying her, but I don't want to be expelled, and I don't want her to see me as a threat to the class. Tanya has been a pretty reliable leader; she even got us to Class A. If I want to graduate in Class A, I have to obey and not complain. I need the money from that scholarship; I don't want to depend on my parents any longer. If I get that scholarship, I can study medicine and specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery. My dad is one of the best plastic surgeons in the country; if I study that, I'll have a guaranteed job, and he could teach me in my free time.
Now that I'm thinking more about my future, will I find a wife? I don't trust women, so I don't know if I could… Well, no need to think about that now; I'm still young. I'll enjoy my life while I can.
"Woof!"
What's up, Kaey? Excited for the trip? Don't get too excited; it's only one day, and then we'll have to work to get our food.
Yesterday, I forgot to do the test to confirm I'm not crazy, but I'll do it today. No one can see Kaey, which is both good and bad. Good because it means people won't be scared of me for having a tiny dog that looks like a demon, but bad because if the test fails, it means I've gone crazy, and Kaey is just a creature created by my mind.
"We need to talk, Kaeyko."
Huh? This is bullshit. All my effort to avoid drawing the leader's attention was for nothing. Being Saik's cabinmate made me catch Tanya's eye. I really avoided getting involved with her… Damn it.
Alright, Kaeyko, just go along with it and follow orders to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"What's up, Tanya?"
Calling her by her name feels weird.
"Don't talk to Saik unless he talks to you, got it? And don't make him angry either."
"Yeah, I know. Anything else?"
"Yes. Take off that mask; you're being ridiculous. Are you an otaku?"
Anime, manga, and video games are my only ways to entertain myself. I don't have friends and only use my social media to check news and read unpublished manga. My life's circumstances turned me into someone who enjoys those things, but I'm not an otaku; it's just a hobby, that's all.
"I can't, sorry, my allergies are acting up."
"I see… Well, don't forget what I said."
She left… Alright, I'm safe.
I can't take off the mask; Kaey marked me as his property or something. A small pentagram appeared on my tongue, one of my teeth, and my chin. I took a picture, but it doesn't show up. Only I can see it, but I'd rather avoid anyone else seeing it. A pentagram is heavily tied to religions. Kaey looks like a demon, but now I suspect he's a real demon. I'd go to a church for help, but I won't.
I wear a mask because there's a chance someone else might see the pentagrams and try to kill me. Maybe these marks only appear on a demon's new body or something. Is Kaey trying to steal my body? If so, I'll accept it. I'm terrified, I want to stay alive, but if I go to a church, Kaey might kill me. Either way, whether I ask for help or not, it's the same—I'll end up dead. I'd rather keep living my life until Kaey decides to take my body.
There's also the possibility that these marks appeared because I'm Kaey's new owner and they're harmless. Thinking about that possibility calms me down. Kaey treats me well and is playful with me, so I think he's harmless. We'll see what happens in the future.
I thought about getting more tattoos to cover it up, but I changed my mind. The school allows freedom of bodily expression. We can have whatever haircut we want, piercings, and even tattoos, so I had no trouble getting in. The tattoo on my back was done out of rebellion in middle school to show I was tough and make people fear me, so they'd stop messing with me. The piercings in my right ear serve the same purpose as the tattoo.
Even though the school allows that freedom, getting more tattoos doesn't seem like a great idea, mainly because they'd look bad on my chin. I'd rather keep wearing a mask to avoid girls looking at me.
"Woof, woof!"
Kaey is floating in front of me, rubbing his belly. Yeah, I know, you're hungry. Come on, let's see what we can get.
I'll keep living my normal life as much as I can. I'm terrified, I don't want to die, but there's nothing I can do except trust.
"The government has already confirmed that no meteorite is approaching Earth, that we'll be safe, and all that. But, man, the destruction of Solerk92 city really makes me shiver. How is it possible for two meteorites to hit the same place?"
"It must be cursed. I'll never travel north."
I'm tired of hearing about that topic; I don't want more fears overwhelming me. I have enough with Kaey.
In my family, we survived four world wars and two global pandemics. Survival is in my blood… Although, during the world wars, my family helped the wounded and stayed away from the battlefield… And during the pandemics, we survived because we stayed home… The older generations of my family weren't exactly survivors, considering they had it easier than others due to our economic status.
Alright, I'll pretend I don't know that. I come from a family of survivors; I can handle a demon-shaped dog and a possible end of the world.
"Woof!"
Yeah, yeah, I know, the food. Let's go. Sorry, I was distracted with my thoughts.
•
•
Oh… Huh? 10 positive points for a sandwich? 30 for a piece of meat? A dish with rice and meat for 50 points?
Prices vary depending on the number of ingredients and how delicious it is. A simple sandwich is 10 points, and a dessert with ice cream is 25 points.
Are they selling us the food? Well, I have 1,269 positive points, and I'm smart enough to average 85 on exams. I don't need positive points now that class points exist, so positive points will be more like money for certain luxuries, huh?
I see some buying without complaining, but others are grumbling about the prices. After all, an answer costs 100 positive points; they're probably saving up to buy answers.
"Kaeyko, could you lend me 10 points for a sandwich? Please."
Do you think I'm a charity? Get out of my sight… Oh… Wait, Kaeyko… Yeah, that's right…
"Sure, but just this once."
A classmate had bad luck on the exam and got a 58 average. Tanya forced him to spend all his points on answers, which raised his average and saved him from expulsion, but it cost him all his positive points.
The same happened to most; they used their points to boost their averages, which allowed us to surpass Class B and move up to Class A.
I didn't have to spend my points; my average was good enough, so there was no need. It's Tanya's way of rewarding those who scored above 85.
I bought four sandwiches and a dessert. I have 1,204 positive points left.
I gave him two sandwiches.
"Here, but you owe me a favor."
"Thank you so much!"
He took them, thanked me, and left. Yeah, pretty nice of me, right? That's what those who saw me would think. The truth is, I did it just to confirm my insanity.
"Kaey, come with me."
I took out my phone and sent her a message. Alright, now to follow him.
I followed him from a distance. Where will he eat his sandwiches?
Looking at the sea, huh? He sat on a bench. He opened one of the sandwiches and started eating. He left the other one beside him.
Hey, don't hate me; you asked for one sandwich, not two. Consider that sandwich payment for being my guinea pig.
"Kaey, go steal his sandwich and bring it to me. Do it when I say 'Kaey.'"
Kaey nodded. That's the good thing about Kaey; he never disobeys my orders, supporting the theory that the marks mean I'm his master.
Alright, she should be here… Now.
"Hey, Kaeyko. Why'd you call me?"
Dulce arrived on time. Your kindness will be repaid, don't worry.
"Can you see Gael? One of our classmates. He's on the bench, eating, that guy a few meters from here."
"Yeah, I see him. Why?"
"Can you see the sandwich on the bench?"
"Yeah. What's with that sandwich?"
"He has two sandwiches. He borrowed 20 points from me to buy them. The class situation improved, but it also got worse since Tanya left most students in our class with no points. Kaey."
Kaey left.
"You still have your points, which will draw attention from our classmates, and they'll ask to borrow points."
I kept talking, so she didn't find it odd that I said Kaey.
"What I'm trying to say is, let me know if anyone tries to threaten you for points. Alright?"
"Huh?! Yeah, sure! Thank you so much, Kaeyko!"
Women are so easy to fool. Abusing my popularity might be considered a repulsive and evil act, but I'll do what's necessary to get what I want.
"Don't worry."
Kaey took the sandwich and quickly ran… Well, flew toward me, since he's a spirit. How do they float? Is there a scientific explanation? Is it magic, or do they float because they're beings from another dimension? I'll probably never know the answers to my questions, so I'd better not think too much about it and just go with the flow.
He handed me the sandwich behind my back. Well done.
"Huh? Where is it?"
I hear him complaining since we're a few meters away. Alright, time to confirm my theory.
"By the way, here. I bought three, but I think I'll be full with two."
I showed her the sandwiches I had. This will confirm if I'm crazy or not.
"There are three, right? Sorry, but my vision's a bit blurry. I'm a little sleepy."
"Yeah, three. Thanks."
She took one.
"Well, see you later."
"B-Bye."
I walked away. Wow, it worked.
Kaey really took the sandwich and gave it to me while I was talking to Dulce.
I'm not crazy; Kaey really exists… He exists… Damn, I'm scared of him again.
Why was I chosen as his master? Was it random? Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. I've confirmed I'm not crazy, so I can keep living my life normally. And thanks to confirming Kaey's existence, I can use him to my advantage.
I need to ensure my survival at school, so I'll do what's necessary to avoid being expelled.
"Fufu. You like chubby girls, huh? No wonder you rejected me."
"… And you are?"
"Yeah, sure. Pretend you don't know me, Kaey."
My name's Kaeyko. Kaey is my little spirit friend. Please don't mix them up. Besides, I'm not pretending. Who are you?
"You really prefer her over me?"
"To me, all women are the same, and that includes you and Dulce. They're deceitful, untrustworthy, and abuse people's trust. Bye."
"Still dealing with your trauma? I'd love to know more about it. Maybe I could help you get over it."
She caressed my cheek… Seriously, why is she acting so familiar? Who is she?
"I don't have time for this."
I removed her hand from my face and walked away.
"I like tough challenges, Kaey."
"Thanks for the useless information I'll probably erase from my brain with video games. Bye."
Women are so weird. Why do they keep approaching me when I've already rejected them? They're unbearable.
At least my neighbor isn't a stalker, but she's way scarier than a real stalker.
•
•
(Pov - Saik.)
The ship is a fancy place, huh? The dining hall is absolutely huge. I was going to eat until I burst, but the food isn't free. It feels unfair to disappoint me like this. School, you're supposed to be an elite school, in other words, you have plenty of money, enough to wipe the teachers' butts with bills. Why not give the food away to your humble…? Oh… Right, 99% of the students aren't humble since they come from wealthy families. I think Sylphie and I are the only poor ones in the school.
But still, why not give away food? Maybe they just want students to use their positive points, avoiding a mass purchase of answers.
Ugh, I'll have to settle for little food.
"Saik, that stuff over there too! I've always wanted to try caviar!"
Spending 200 points on caviar doesn't sound like a great idea, but giving Yuki a little treat doesn't seem so bad.
I ended up buying caviar, fish, steaks, ice cream desserts, and chocolate and lemon drinks.
In total, it was 1,800 positive points. I have 25,359 left.
"Need help?"
"Yeah, with the drinks. I'm heading to my cabin. Thanks."
I carried all the food on two trays, and a worker helped with the drinks.
I can feel envious stares on me. Yeah, envy me, I'm going to eat all this by myself.
Joking aside, I really feel harassed right now. Most students can't afford to buy as much as I did.
I hope no one's in the cabin because I want to eat in peace with Yuki.
"Yuck, the caviar tastes awful! I don't want it anymore!"
… I'll make you eat it, Yuki. I didn't spend that much for you not to eat it… Ugh, I feel like a mom, huh? Is this how my dad felt when I didn't want to eat my desserts? I understand your pain now, Dad.
We're almost there, sir, just a bit more.
"I tried to kiss him in front of his parents, but he dodged it. That was very rude of him."
"Maybe he was just embarrassed. You know how Mark is."
"What a coward."
Oh, Naima's voice. She's with her friends, huh? Calling her friend's boyfriend a coward was nice. And they're laughing at him. Women are so mean. Well, no woman is meaner to me after meeting Sister Daisy. I met her when I was a kind human and not a monster, but her past self scared and disgusted me so much that I never saw her as a kind woman again.
I still wonder, are there really people addicted to human suffering? Or are there only people so used to causing harm that not doing it feels strange?
From my experience, I think there are crazy people who enjoy causing pain. I've caused a ton of pain to thousands of people, but now that I'm a normal human, I don't feel different; I don't feel the need to kill again.
Naima's approaching. Come on, Saik, you can invite her to eat. I'm sure she'll accept… Well, she'll probably look at me with disgust and reject my invitation, but at least she'll see me.
"Hey, Naima, want some caviar? I didn't like it."
"Yuck. No, thanks."
That disgusted look is adorable.
"Yeah, it's gross. I wasted 200 positive points on that."
They walked ahead. Bye, Naima.
Alright, I'll eat slowly, enjoying the food, and then eat the caviar with disgust. Food shouldn't be wasted… Huh?
"My leg!"
"Huh?"
What's wrong with her? Why did she do that?
"You broke my leg, you damn savage!"
Oh, she's really hurt. Why did Reiko trip me? What was she trying to do?
"Ahhhhhhhh! I told you, Saik, they're trying to humiliate you! Look, everyone's staring at you! And they're whispering!"
While Reiko cried in pain, the students around me looked at me angrily. Wait, do they think I hurt her? She tripped me, but since I kept walking normally, I ended up accidentally kicking her. When she fell, she hurt her knee and face. It wasn't my fault; she tried to make me drop my food.
… Wait… Did Naima yawn? And she doesn't look worried… She knew this was going to happen… I see. Yuki, you're right, they're trying to humiliate me. I didn't think so because… I mean… This is ridiculous. Why do something so stupid when…? Ugh… This doesn't make sense.
Did she really do this here? I think I underestimated her.
I yawned.
"You're dumber than I thought, huh?"
"Shut up, idiot!"
"We'll report you to the teacher!" Yesei said.
She tried to trip me, but she didn't know how sturdy I am; it's impossible to make me stumble with a simple trip. She's an unlucky idiot.
"I see… Naima, are you going to report me too?"
"No, thanks, I'd rather not waste my time."
She turned around and left without her friends. Ugh, that cold side is so charming. I'm liking Naima more and more. She's so different from other girls. A selfish girl who only thinks about herself, doesn't let others bother or insult her, defends herself when necessary, and doesn't shy away from problems… She's perfect.
"Alright, go report me. I'll be in my cabin, eating."
I continued on my way. I'm not obligated to stay. I'll go to the teacher when I'm called. I'm not worried about the situation; I have the advantage. Even bribing witnesses won't help her win.
It was my victory the moment she decided to trip me in this place.
•
•
I got to my cabin, thanked the worker, and locked myself in to eat. I'm alone, after all; the others probably don't want to waste time in a cabin when they can go swimming or play video games in the ship's entertainment room.
I set the food on one of the beds. Alright, time to eat.
"Let's eat!"
Yuki tried to grab one of the steaks, but I didn't let her. Her hand passed through it.
"Huh?"
"You're eating the caviar."
"Nooooooo! It tastes awful! I don't want to, I don't want to!"
"I see…"
I took a bite of the steak.
"Delicious. Too bad you can't enjoy it, Yuki."
"You're mean! You can't do this to me! Please, don't make me eat it!"
… Is she staring into my eyes with teary eyes and a pout? That's cheating, Yuki, but I'm not that easy to convince.
"You'll have to be cuter, considering I spent 200 points on that caviar."
"I-I don't want to eat it, nya! I-I want meat or fish, nya!"
… She put her hands on her head, pretending they were cat ears… Ugh… I admit that was pretty cute, and she's turning red from embarrassment, which makes her even cuter.
"Sacrificing your dignity for food, huh?"
"You didn't leave me any choice, nya!"
"Alright, alright, you can eat. That last nya was the final blow."
"Yay! Pity worked!"
She started eating, and I started on the caviar. My parents forbade me from wasting food; I have to eat it even if I don't like the taste.
"They're calling you, Saik," Yuki said, with food in her mouth.
I'll scold her later.
I took out my phone and answered the call.
"Hey, Cristal, what's up?"
It's the first time she's called me. Is something wrong?
"Saik, Saik, there's an EvoluRado 23 console! It's the newest virtual reality console! Come play with me!"
"I'll be there in about 30 minutes; I'm eating. Play for now and then show me how to play."
"That's what I'll do! Don't be late!"
She sounds really excited. Well, even I'm a bit excited about it. It's my first time playing that console.
I hung up… EvoluRado 23… Virtual reality… L. García Technology has really advanced a lot in recent years.
It's been two years since I last saw Lalo García. I wonder if he'd give me one of his consoles if I sent him a message.
Well, I'll deal with that later. I just noticed someone's opening the door.
Yuki hid under the bed, taking three steaks with her.
She took mine, the one I took a bite of. Thief. I'll eat her dessert as punishment.
The door opened. Oh, it's Kaeyko. At least it's someone I know… Well, not really, considering he ignored my presence and lay on his bed… He put on headphones and ignored me. Alright, I'm used to it, but it's rude not to say hello or good morning. My mom would be really mad at you.
I kept eating calmly, or that was the plan, because I got an email requesting my presence in cabin number 1, probably the teachers' cabin or our teacher's.
"Hey, Kaeyko… Hey…"
I approached him and shook him a bit. He was falling asleep. I don't blame you; I'm sleepy too.
"What's up?"
"Watch my food, please. I'll be back in about 10 minutes. You can eat something as thanks."
"Yeah, sure."
I left the cabin. Ugh, I hope this doesn't take long, but considering the evidence, it'll be quick.
"Fufu. You don't look worried, Saik. Knowing you, you probably have something planned. Are we going to expel them?!"
"That would be counterproductive, considering she's my classmate; it would only hurt our class."
Besides, she's Naima's friend, and I don't want her to hate me.
•
•
(Pov - Kaeyko.)
"Woof, woof, woof, woof!"
"Kaey, Saik is harmless, so stop barking at him."
Kaey nodded and whimpered like any other dog. Sorry for scolding you, but judging people by their appearance is wrong. You should never judge someone without knowing them.
"Now, I'm in a dilemma."
Saik's food looks delicious, especially that fried fish with lemon. He offered me some of his food as thanks, but should I accept it?
Huh? I guess I should accept it now since Kaey is already eating the fish.
"Didn't you get full with the sandwich?"
"Woof!"
I'm surprised he can eat so much with such a small body.
"Alright, but just a piece; I don't want to look like a starving guy."
… Does it smell like meat? That's weird… The smell… The smell is coming from under the bed. Is it my imagination?
I crouched down just to check… Wow, yeah, there are three plates; two have steak remnants, and one has a full steak with just one bite… Wow, it's a small bite. Saik likes to savor his food slowly.
Why does he have plates here…? I think he got bored of the taste and planned to throw it away, so he left it under his bed. Leaving dirty plates under the bed so people don't judge you for eating too much. Well, well. On the contrary, they won't think you're a glutton, Saik; they'll just envy you for being able to splurge so many positive points on simple food. Even I envy you.
By my calculations, considering the food he has, even caviar, he spent over 1,500 positive points. More than I have available… He's really on another level.
I took the plate with the steak.
"Eat this, Kaey, leave that fish."
After all, Saik was going to throw it away. One person's trash is another's treasure, huh?
Kaey started eating, and I took a piece.
Expelling someone allowed him to afford these luxuries… He expelled three students… Maybe… No, it's not worth drawing attention. If I draw attention by expelling another student, Tanya might try to use me and force me to do things I don't want to. If Tanya tries to force me to do something and I refuse, she'll turn the others against me. I don't have what it takes to be a leader; I'm not even sociable, so having her as an enemy isn't an option. I don't want to obey her, so I won't draw attention by expelling someone. I'm ranked number 6 out of 20 students in our class, above average but below Tanya and four others. Plus, my antisocial side makes me less useful to Tanya.
I don't want to waste time helping Tanya; socializing isn't something I enjoy, and now that I have a demonic dog, I need to research more about it. I can't use my time to help the class. I want to stay in Class A and will help to keep our class from dropping, but if we're in a secure position, I won't help at all. I'd rather avoid that discomfort.
•
•
(Pov - Saik.)
"And that's why I demand he be punished!"
"Yeah, it's the least he deserves for being a bully!"
I'm enjoying a lollipop the teacher gave me while listening to Reiko and Yesei's complaints. It's not as tasty as the ones I usually eat, but it's still good.
I was hoping to see Naima, but she's not here, so my mood isn't the best right now. I wanted to show off my skills and prove to Naima that I'm a perfect candidate to be her boyfriend, but she's not here. Ugh, I really have bad luck.
"Can I hear your side of the story, Saik?"
"Idiot number 1 tripped me so I'd fall and waste my delicious food, which didn't happen because I walk perfectly, and my balance is perfect. She didn't expect me not to stumble and keep walking, which caused her to fall and get those injuries because she's an idiot. And idiot number 2 is exaggerating the situation because she's her accomplice. I'd call them a trio of idiots, but Naima is actually smart."
And gorgeous, of course. Well, not that much, just above average, but very beautiful to me.
"Do you have proof?"
"We have witnesses who can confirm our story!"
"And you, Saik?"
"Teacher, I suspect these two girls are mentally challenged. Did they really pass their exams?"
"Teacher, we won't tolerate more insults from this idiot!"
"My proof is the ship's security camera footage."
"Huh?"
I took out my phone and looked for the footage I requested before coming. Fortunately, since it was a school-related matter, they gave it to me easily.
The resolution is perfect, as expected from a security camera on a ship for rich people.
"We're on a very exclusive and elegant cruise. Did it never cross your minds that there would be security cameras, idiots? Do you think a ship that guarantees passenger safety wouldn't have security cameras? That's why I'm so sure you're mentally challenged."
I showed the footage to the teacher.
"As you can see, Reiko tripped me; you can clearly see when she does it, but since I kept walking, she stumbled and fell. I had my tray of food blocking my view; I couldn't see what was happening below me, so I didn't know she tripped me. She clearly tried to play the victim, and for a few seconds, you can see Yesei laughing when Reiko tried to trip me. She knew she was going to do it; they planned it."
"The evidence supports Saik's version. Do you have anything to say?"
They stayed silent because they can't say anything to deny it. The footage clearly shows Reiko tripping me and Yesei laughing. They can't say anything to refute it.
"I thought so. Saik, do you want to file a complaint? They're in your class, so that could harm Class B."
"T-That's right, we're in the same class!"
"You can't report us!"
"Yes, please, I'd like to file a complaint for attempted bullying, defamation, and lying to a teacher. If you could take away most of their positive points, I'd be very satisfied."
"W-What?!"
They were shocked, probably thinking I wouldn't report them. I don't care about the class enough to not get revenge.
My mother was a saint, but she taught me not to let any crime go unpunished. If injustice gets away with it, good will never win. Honestly, I'm doing it mostly for satisfaction and revenge.
The teacher sighed and started typing on her phone.
"Class B lost 10 class points due to the inappropriate behavior of students Reiko and Yesei. Class B now has 266 class points."
Wow. That many…? I think that gave me an idea to use against the president. Thanks, teacher.
Oh, I got a message… She sent what she said as a voice message to our group chat. I can already feel Ram's fury awakening.
Class B earned 276 class points in the last exams last week. Thanks to that, we were still Class B. Class C currently has 268 class points, meaning 2 points more than us. In other words, if we fail this special test, we'll say goodbye to Class B and drop to Class C or D.
I'd feel bad, but I don't care. By reporting them, I'll get a lot of hate, but so will they for being the idiots who made me angry.
"Can I leave?"
"Yes, you can. Reiko, Yesei, you'll clean the floors for three hours as punishment."
"That's not fair!"
I left before hearing more complaints. Their voices are so annoying; they don't compare to Yuki's angelic voice, even if she's laughing like a maniac.
"Hahahahahaha! In your faces, idiots! Saik, Saik, that was so heartless and insensitive of you! I loved it!"
"They made me angry."
Honestly, I'm only mad because I had planned a performance that would've made me look cool, but Naima didn't show up. I'm disappointed… Oh, is that Naima? She's looking at the sea… Alone…
I think I've seen this kind of scene in some romantic novels… It'd be too weird to get too close; I'll approach slowly so I don't scare her.
"You knew, didn't you?"
"Tch. What do you want, weirdo?"
I stood beside her. Her hair smells nice, but I'd probably end up with a broken face if I mentioned it. Naima's the only girl I'd let hit me because I don't dare hit her back.
"You knew what she was going to do, didn't you?"
"If you mean the security cameras, yeah, I knew, but it's so obvious I didn't think they wouldn't notice."
"No, you knew, and you knew they didn't realize. You knew but didn't tell them. Now, the big question: Why didn't you tell them about the security cameras?"
"And why would I? They got themselves into trouble; it wasn't my problem. They brought it on themselves. They'll never learn if they keep depending on me."
"Wow. Pretty cruel of you, don't you think?"
"You don't have the right to call me cruel, weirdo."
She walked away from me, and I looked at the sea.
I highly doubt she did it just to teach them a lesson. She did it to protect herself, sacrificing her own friends. She did it to avoid getting in trouble herself.
Naima, I think I understand why I'm falling for you. You're a selfish, cruel, and violent girl.
Naima, you're like me, and that's why I'm so attracted to you.
The only difference is that you're a sociable girl, someone who knows she can't survive without others' help. I'm a loner because I know I can survive without needing people in my life.
You accept your weaknesses and find ways to eliminate them; you don't stay with your weaknesses… I really like you.
What if I confess my feelings to her right now…? No, that'd be too creepy of me, considering we barely know each other and aren't even friends. If we're friends by February 14 next year, I'll tell her how I feel.
"Saik, you okay? What happened with Reiko and Yesei?"
"Oh, hey, Sylphie, I thought you were with Ram. I hope I don't run into her; she'll probably be mad at me."
"Well… Yeah, she's looking for you, along with Saoto, to get you to withdraw your complaints."
"I don't plan to. This will show them I won't tolerate mistreatment from my own classmates; I'll treat them the same way I treat others… Oh, by the way, the black nail polish looks great on you."
She painted her nails black, and her earrings are black heart-shaped. I like her new style.
"T-Thanks. I'm trying to change my look."
"Nice change, though your old look was cute too."
It made her look pure and beautiful; now she looks a bit rebellious and beautiful.
"Wanna go play video games?"
"Yeah, sure! Let's go."
"Saik!"
Oh, it's Saoto and Ram.
Saoto looks angry.
"Good morning. What's up? You look mad. Why don't we calm down and go play video games…? Oh…"
Saoto grabbed me by the collar of my uniform. Hey, hey, do you know how annoying it is to iron this? You're wrinkling it.
"Withdraw your complaints!"
"Saoto, let go of Saik!"
"Stay out of this, Sylphie!"
Thanks for worrying about me, Sylphie; you're even trying to pull Saoto's hands off with your little strength. Your loyalty will be rewarded. I'll buy you whatever you want later.
"Violence isn't good, Saoto, especially considering I'm much stronger than you."
I started squeezing his arms.
"Now, please, leave me alone. And never raise your voice at Sylphie again. Got it?"
"Fufu. Look at Sylphie's face; it turned red because you defended her," Yuki said.
Ugh… I think I said something stupid. Sylphie helped me, so I defended her honor… I guess it didn't turn out as well as I thought.
Saoto couldn't handle the pain anymore and let go. I released him, leaving two red marks on his arms.
"Saik, now you went too far. If you knew they'd take class points from us, why did you complain?" Ram said as Saoto rubbed his arms.
"I thought they'd take their positive points; I didn't imagine they'd take class points. That was my mistake, sorry. Unfortunately, I'm the kind of person who hates letting wrongdoers go unpunished. I beat up the girls who were bothering Sylphie, reported the Class A student for being a psychopath, and expelled an idiot who dared to take a picture of Sylphie's butt."
"Fufu. Her face got even redder, Saik. You're definitely her hero now."
Damn, I need to start thinking more about what I say.
"If the teacher punished them by taking class points, there's nothing I can do. If that's the punishment they got, that's what they'll get."
"But you're hurting all of us, idiot!"
Wow, Saoto's getting aggressive.
"So what? I promised Sylphie we'd reach Class A, and I'll keep my promise. Don't be desperate; we still have more years, classes just started."
"You promised Sylphie?" Ram said.
"Yeah, and I'll keep my promise. So, if you want to reach Class A, don't mess with me or Sylphie. Got it? Don't try to expel her, because if you do, Class B will sink to Class E."
"Hahahahahaha! Sylphie can't stop trembling!" Yuki said.
I think I need to stop mentioning her.
"And how sure are you that Class B will reach Class A?"
"90% sure. That'll go up to 100% once I get to know Tanya better."
"I see… I'll trust your word."
She turned around and walked away.
"You're seriously going to believe him that easily?! Hey, wait!"
Saoto ran to catch up with her.
"Saoto acted differently than usual, huh? I think the news really got to him… Huh? Sylphie, you okay?"
I put my hand on her forehead. Does she have a fever?
"Your head's hot; I think you have a fever."
"Fufu. It got hot for another reason," Yuki said.
Huh? I don't get it. Do women get fevers for other reasons? I really don't know much about them.
"I think you need to rest."
I picked her up in my arms.
"Huh?!"
"You shouldn't move much; you need to rest. I'll take you to the infirmary to get checked."
"N-N-No, don't worry, I'm fine!"
"But your head's hot; you have a fever."
"I-I'm fine, I promise."
"Oh… I see… You sure?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Alright, I believe you."
I set her down.
"I-I think I need some food. I-I'll see you in the entertainment room."
"Yeah, sure. Don't overdo it."
"Y-Yeah, thanks for worrying about me, Saik."
I walked away… Ugh, I really don't understand women.
"Quite the charmer, huh? I even got jealous seeing how you defended her from Ram and Saoto. Changing the subject, we're far from land! When will the ghost ships show up?! I want to invade one and fight them!"
"You're not scared?"
"Fufu. Who do you think you're talking to? The great and beautiful Yuki isn't afraid of anything! Yuki isn't scared of mere ghost pirates! I'll defeat them with my cute fists!"
"Are you talking about the same Yuki who got scared seeing a grotesque ghost? And twice. Though I think it was three times."
"That was because it caught me off guard; today, I'm ready for any…!"
"Hi!"
"Kya!!"
Yuki hid behind my back, scared, when she saw Number 50, the legendary ghost of navigation. A very famous female pirate who died hundreds of years ago. She traveled the world, stealing ships and selling slaves. A woman obsessed with power whose cruelty knew no bounds—until she met me, I beat her face in, and taught her I was in charge, not her. I had to defeat her over 1,000 times before she gave up and stopped bothering me.
She's one of the few legendary ghosts who remember their lives when they were alive. She was killed by the famous Kraken, the legendary monster that turned out to be legendary ghost Number 96, the ghost of sea monsters.
"Hey, little one, I heard you want a pirate adventure! Come with me, and I'll teach you to be a real pirate!"
"If you teach her to kill, I'll destroy you."
"Do you think I'd teach something so cruel to a cute little girl, Saik?"
"Yes."
"Oh, you broke my heart!"
I started looking at the sea to avoid drawing attention.
"S-Saik, you know her?" Yuki said.
"Yeah, she's a ghost who lives in the sea. I told her you wanted to meet ghost pirates, and she agreed to show you her pirate ship."
"When did you tell her?!"
"When you went to explore the ship."
"Hey, little one, my name's Ariel!"
"Liar. Her name's Rock, 'the Dirty Red.'"
"Hey, you said not to teach her anything cruel!"
"Huh? What's cruel about her real name?" Yuki said.
"She was called 'the Dirty Red' because her clothes were always stained with her victims' blood. A bit of history would do Yuki some good."
"Oh… L-Let's change the subject! Where's your ghost ship?!"
"Fufu. Look."
She whistled a pirate melody, or so she calls it. It's a song she used to sing while killing her enemies. A disgusting backstory, considering her song was quite cheerful.
"🎶On land or sea, happiness can always be found! Adventure will bring us friends, and happiness will soon come! One, two, three, the count to smile again! One, two, three, come on, smile too!🎶"
A ship with a green aura started rising from the sea. Its pirate flag is a skull with a pink hat.
The ghost pirates are singing and dancing as the ship fully emerged from the sea.
"G-G-Great! Are those ghost pirates singing?!"
I forced them to sing to make it seem more childish and less terrifying than it is.
"Muahahaha! Come on, little one, an adventure awaits us!"
"Just show her the ship and tell her the Kraken's story."
"T-The Kraken?! The Kraken exists?!"
"Fufu. I fought it three times! But it killed me in our third fight."
"She's telling the truth, Yuki, so pay close attention to what she says."
"Yeah, of course! Let's go, let's go!"
"Come back for dinner."
"Yeah, thanks!"
Yuki and Rock flew off toward the ship… Alright, Yuki, I hope what's about to happen doesn't scare you too much. You're about to witness a real pirate battle.