By the ti the classroom filled up, Rina-sensei walked back in.
Ren had been watching the door the entire ti, ntally cataloguing each arrival. So far, only Yukino had registered as familiar.
It's a big multiverse. I can't expect to recognize everyone by sight. He'd probably have to wait for roll call.
Rina-sensei swept the room with a practiced eye. "Everyone's here. From today, you are all students of this class. So of you have transferred from neighboring schools, so of you are from here. I expect you to get along."
This prompted the question several students had clearly been sitting on: Why were students from other schools suddenly here?
She answered without drama. The Director had used his considerable authority to gather the region's most talented students into a single cohort. The other school administrators hadn't exactly been given a choice in the matter.
"That's why we're here. Any other questions?"
None ca — mostly because the next thing she said overrode them all.
"You'll have access to the best teachers this school can offer, and the best resources it can provide."
That landed well. The quiet that followed wasn't confusion; it was calculation. Everyone in this room knew exactly what being singled out by a school ant for their future.
Rina-sensei let the words settle before moving on. "Let's start with introductions. First row, go ahead."
Standard enough — but the energy behind it was different. These students had been pulled from different schools, different social circles. They were strangers operating under the unspoken assumption that several of their new classmates were probably remarkable.
One by one, students stood and gave their nas. Brief, a little guarded, a lot curious. The classroom filled with the particular tension of people deciding who was worth paying attention to.
When it reached Yukino Yukinoshita's row, the room's attention sharpened noticeably. Every eye in the place tracked her as she rose, unruffled by the stares.
"I'm Yukino Yukinoshita, from the Sakura District. Pleased to et you all."
She sat back down without acknowledging the attention, and Ren noticed a wave of silent comntary pass through the room. Several guys made a point of morizing that na.
Ren was next. "I'm Ren Isana." He sat down.
No particular reaction — which was fine. He wasn't a beautiful girl, after all. Though a few of the female students did take a second look. He was handso, in the sharp, understated way that tended to register a mont later.
Then the student behind him stood up.
"My na is gumi Kato. I'm from the Sakura District."
Ren turned around, expecting nothing in particular.
He froze.
Saint gumi is actually here.
He stared at the short-haired girl sitting directly behind him. She was completely average-looking in the best possible way — the kind of person who sohow made average feel curated.
But what really stopped him cold was sothing else entirely.
After she finished her introduction and sat back down, Ren realized nobody else in the room had even looked at her. Not a single person. Their horoom teacher had continued with the roster as though the introduction hadn't happened, and the students around her were chatting as if the seat behind Ren was empty.
What kind of talent is this? Is everyone in this class just going to ignore her?
He looked more carefully. There — barely perceptible, more a sense than a sight — a faint, almost invisible aura clung to gumi Kato like a second skin. It was pushing her out of everyone's awareness. Not hiding her exactly, but making her… unimportant to notice.
gumi glanced up.
Their eyes t. For a fraction of a second, sothing flickered across her face — surprise, followed imdiately by a very controlled attempt not to show that it was surprise.
"Alright, introductions are done," Rina-sensei said, setting down the roster. "Get to know each other. Official classes start this afternoon."
She left.
The room erupted.
Ren turned back in his seat, then turned around again deliberately. He looked straight at gumi Kato.
"That's a remarkable talent," he said. "People close to your level can't notice you at all. Even soone stronger would probably overlook you unless they were specifically looking."
He kept his voice level, like he was noting the weather.
gumi blinked at him — genuinely startled, this ti making no effort to hide it.
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