Timeo, along with his classmates, spent most of the day inside the classroom. Lunch break was just a couple of hours away, and two subjects had already passed by on that Monday.
Across the room, a few students were whispering about Timeo's enrollment, speaking in hushed tones so he couldn't overhear. "Hey, that's him, right? Did you hear? He has a criminal record. Apparently, it's huge. Something about a murder," one girl murmured. "Why would they let a murderer into our school? No way! How did they even let him out? He must've paid them off," she added, oblivious to the fact that Timeo had heard every word.
But Timeo wasn't bothered. The accusations of murder were outrageous, though his criminal record had made its way through several schools. Yet somehow, this was the only place that had accepted him.
Leaning against the table, his eyes stared out at the schoolyard, deep in thought. Composure was his specialty—no matter how intense the situation, he stayed calm and buried his feelings inside.
Suddenly, the teacher's voice sliced through his thoughts. She called on two female students before turning her attention to Timeo.
"Alright, class," she began, "today we'll be discussing energy, but we're not just talking about the physical kind like heat or motion. We're going to dive into something a bit more abstract. Who can tell me what the main difference is between physical energy and spiritual energy?"
The class went quiet, the teacher's eyes scanning the room. Timeo, as always, didn't rush to answer but listened carefully. She waited for a moment, clearly expecting an answer.
After a brief pause, Timeo stood up slightly, clearing his throat. "Physical energy is what powers our bodies—it's the energy we get from food, movement, heat... stuff we can actually see and touch. But spiritual energy is different. It's more about the unseen—emotions, thoughts, and the forces that connect us to each other and the world around us. It's not something we can touch, but it can influence things like our beliefs, our will, and how we relate to others."
The teacher nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Exactly. Physical energy is tangible, while spiritual energy is intangible, influencing our minds and hearts."
One of the students stared at him in surprise. "Wow, that's pretty impressive. We covered that last year. How did he get it so right...?" For a brief moment, Timeo felt the weight of the silence, but the comment about his knowledge seemed to shift things. Despite the question being relatively simple, his answer stood out, and for a moment, even those who usually struggled with such topics found themselves a bit impressed. Timeo had just shown them a level of insight that went beyond the average student's response.
Near the end of the school day, Timeo was called in by his homeroom teacher, Emi Hayakawa. She wanted to go over the school's rules and the essential guidelines he'd need to follow as a student of Aokusa. She asked him to meet her in the staff room about an hour before classes officially ended for the day.
Timeo stepped into the staff room, quietly closing the door behind him. Ms. Emi Hayakawa sat at her desk, neatly organized with papers, a thermos of tea, and a small digital clock ticking steadily beside her. She gestured for him to sit across from her with a polite smile.
"Thank you for coming, Timeo. I'll keep this brief so you don't miss the end of your first day," she said, folding her hands atop a folder labeled with his name. "As a new student at Aokusa, it's important you understand how things work here — both inside and outside the classroom."
She opened the folder, flipping to the first page. "First, you'll be given a student handbook, which I expect you to read. It outlines our conduct policy, dress code, attendance expectations, and how we handle absences or discipline."
She glanced up to make sure he was listening before continuing.
"Our school grounds are divided into four main sectors," she said. "You've already seen the academic wing, where most of your classes will be held — that includes the second and third floors. The ground floor holds the cafeteria, health office, and the student support center."
She slid a laminated campus map across the table toward him.
"Behind the main building, you'll find the gymnasium and outdoor training fields. Physical education, club activities, and, as you'll learn, our dance department — handled by Mr. Nishizawa — are based there. We also have a separate arts building for music, visual arts, and drama."
Her tone didn't waver when she mentioned Nishizawa's name, but Timeo noticed her eyes lingered on him just a second longer.
"You're expected to stay within the school boundaries during breaks unless given special permission. Wandering into off-limits areas — like the old library wing or faculty-only halls — will result in disciplinary action."
She tapped the table gently with her index finger.
"Lastly, Timeo, I want to be clear about this — Aokusa values reputation, discipline, and effort. I don't know what you're bringing with you from your last school, but here, we don't look kindly on troublemakers. Keep your head low, focus on your studies, and you'll do just fine."
She gave him a polite smile, though it didn't fully reach her eyes. "Any questions before I let you go?"
Timeo took a moment before speaking, weighing his words carefully. Eventually, he looked up and asked, "I happened to meet Mr. Souta Nishizawa before I arrived this morning. He… seems popular?"
He kept his tone neutral, doing his best not to sound suspicious or confrontational. The last thing he wanted was to come across like he had a problem with someone on his very first day. Still, something about the man gnawed at the back of his mind, and he needed to hear what others thought of him—especially someone like Ms. Hayakawa.
Emi raised an eyebrow at the question, her fingers pausing mid-flip through her notes. "That's an interesting thing to bring up on your first day."
Her expression was unreadable for a moment. She set the papers down and leaned back slightly in her chair, studying him for a beat before offering a composed smile.
"Well, yes—Mr. Nishizawa is quite popular," she said. "He's been with Aokusa for several years now. He teaches in our dance department and leads the school's official team. You might've already heard this, but he's fairly well-known across Japan for his expertise in modern, classical, and experimental dance techniques. He's something of a minor celebrity in those circles."
She folded her hands again, her tone growing more formal.
"The school has a major inter-academic dance competition coming up in about three months. It's a national event with high visibility. Winning would mean recognition and prestige—not just for the team, but for Aokusa as a whole. And to be frank, the school board and the principal are very invested in that success."
She paused, her gaze drifting briefly toward the window before returning to him.
"Mr. Nishizawa has already made impressive progress with our students. Many of them admire him deeply. Some even say he's the reason they enrolled here in the first place."
There was a pause in her voice, and then her smile returned—faint and practiced.
"As for me… I'm just your homeroom teacher. I handle schedules, attendance, grades. I don't deal with clubs or after-school activities. What goes on in those departments, I leave to the respective staff. That's all I can tell you."
She didn't seem tense, but something about the way she compartmentalized her role felt deliberate. A clear boundary was being drawn—subtle, but unmistakable.
Lost in thought, Timeo could understand why students admired someone like Souta—his reputation, charisma, and skill all lined up perfectly. But was that really who he was beneath the surface?
Leo said he teaches sports too... And the way he described him, he's not just strict—he's cruel.
Then there's what happened earlier... that confrontation...
Does Ms. Emi Hayakawa know any of this?
Emi watched Timeo carefully, as if sensing his unease. She tapped her pen once against the table, then spoke with a steady, composed voice.
"One more thing you should know," she said. "Mr. Nishizawa isn't just the dance instructor. He also teaches physical education for your year. Which means you'll be seeing him regularly, at least twice a week."
Timeo's gaze shifted slightly, his expression unreadable.
Emi offered a faint, almost diplomatic smile. "I'd advise you to be respectful and cooperative in his class. He has a unique teaching style—very hands-on, very demanding—but his results speak for themselves. He expects discipline and effort from his students, and in return, he invests heavily in them."
She closed the folder in front of her with a soft snap. "You're new here, Timeo. I understand things might feel overwhelming, especially today. But as long as you focus on your studies and follow the rules, you'll do just fine."
Her words were calm, but firm—leaving no room for debate.
"Alright," she continued, standing up. "You can head back to your classroom. The bell should be ringing soon."
Timeo stood, nodding politely, though a tangle of questions still sat heavy in his mind.
Souta Nishizawa—respected, admired, feared.
And now… his teacher.
Whether he liked it or not.
As Timeo stepped out of the staff room, the thought returned to him clearly. "Leo told me to meet him on the rooftop once class was over. I should head up there and go see him."
To be continued...