"Yaaawn~~~"

After clearing the dishes, I checked the time, dark circles heavy under my eyes.

"Crap! I’m gonna be late!!"

I grabbed my backpack, dashed to the front door, yanked open the shoe cabinet, and skipped regular shoes for a pair of roller skates. I slipped them on fast.

With a female homeroom teacher in middle school, I couldn’t even imagine the consequences of being late.

Roller skates on, I whooshed out the door, took a sharp turn, and sped toward school.

Since I’d left later than usual today, the housewives who normally lingered on the morning commute were nowhere to be seen.

I breathed a sigh of relief—at least no time wasted on that.

As I neared the school gates, seeing them slowly closing in the distance, I pushed my speed harder.

At the exact moment they shut, I slid through the gap with a sidestep, landing inside the campus.

I swapped shoes quickly and sprinted toward my classroom just as the bell began ringing.

"Faster! Faster! Faster!!"

Whoosh—I flung the classroom door open. Every pair of eyes instantly locked onto me.

No teacher stood at the podium. Relief washed over me as I headed to my seat.

Passing Kuroki Tomoko, my gaze accidentally met hers.

Tch. The dark circles under my eyes mirrored hers almost perfectly!!

Her stare felt odd. Instinctively, I scanned the affection indicator above her head.

Hmm. Normal. No changes.

Just as I stepped into the aisle, a slender, white leg in school socks shot out to trip me.

Seeing that pale thigh block my path, my lips curled into a smirk.

—You think this can prank me?!

Let me tell you—I’ve survived countless battles. What school prank haven’t I mastered?

The late Ito Makoto from Sakuragaoka Academy? I chatted with him like old friends! You guys! Stop chasing big drama every day!

The instant her leg caught me, I pretended to lose balance. Arms flailing wildly, I "panicked" and grabbed her school skirt.

"Ahhhhh—"

Her scream echoed as I fell. My eyes flicked under her skirt.

—Pink lace-trimmed. Totally worth it.

I scrambled up, apologizing to the flushed girl whose face burned with anger and embarrassment. She glared at me fiercely, like she wanted to devour me whole.

Whether she accepted it didn’t matter. She wasn’t on my conquest list anyway.

Besides, she started it. Couldn’t blame me for that...

Dusting myself off, I walked on. But during my fake fall, the Linghuan Agency business card slipped from my pocket.

It fluttered through the air, landing on the desk of Yamashita Ryuto—the short, bowl-cut boy. He picked it up, read the agency description on the back, then stared at me silently, expressionless, lost in thought.

"Morning, Tsuchimi-san."

Back at my seat, I greeted Umaru Tsuchimi like always. Whether she replied or not, I kept it up—it was the perk of sitting nearby.

Daily greetings wore down her guard. Over time, she’d grow used to me, easing her aversion. Affection might not rise much, but resistance would fade from our first meetings.

Humans are strange creatures. Habit is a powerful thing. No matter how much someone hates you, constant greetings make them accustomed to your presence.

"Good morning, Kamidou-kun."

She smiled back, returning my greeting. I quickly checked her affection indicator.

—No change... So she was acting?

What a terrifying woman!

That was my only thought.

This girl—from forcing smiles yesterday to today’s flawless act... In an ancient emperor’s harem, she’d star in a full-blown scheming drama.

But fine. Conquering someone this calculating would prove my skills!

...Wait. Something felt off? Whatever. Forget it.

After greeting her, I checked my desk and chair for pranks, cleared them, and sat down. I pulled out my textbooks from my backpack.

Soon, Ms. Yukimura entered, textbooks in hand, and started class.

This lesson should’ve been peaceful. But after barely sleeping last night, dark circles weighing me down, the boring lecture made my eyelids droop.

Propping my cheek on one hand, sleepiness washed over me. My vision blurred.

Half-asleep, I dozed off right there...

In an endless dark void, I wandered aimlessly.

"...Where is this place?..."

Ms. Yukimura suddenly appeared ahead, submachine gun in hand. *Click.* She aimed it at a boy.

"Huh?! Ms. Yukimura, what—put the weapon down, please!!"

Sweating, I tried calming her.

Useless. Expressionless, she pulled the trigger.

Flames spat from the barrel. Bullets flew at me. My scalp prickled.

I dodged the hail of gunfire, leaving afterimages.

The submachine gun vanished. An RPG launcher appeared on her shoulder. A grenade exploded right before me.

"Kamidou Chiyo!"

Her furious shout jolted me awake amid the blast.

I lifted my head, dazed. Chalk pieces littered the floor, telling the story.

Ms. Yukimura stood before me, face flushed with anger, textbook rolled tightly in her hand. The throbbing on my head confirmed it—she’d woken me by whacking me.

Probably that halo effect’s fault. It’d twisted the usually kind Ms. Yukimura into this...