The morning sun did little to ease the chaotic energy inside the high school chemistry laboratory.
Students were buzzing around in white lab coats, clinking glass beakers, and measuring out various colorful liquids.
As soon as Reian walked in, the chemistry teacher noticed the heavy wrapping around his hand.
“Reian, what happened to your hand?”the teacher asked with concern.
Reian offered a quick, casual excuse, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Oh, this?
Just a minor accident yesterday, sir.
Nothing to worry about.”
The teacher sighed, shaking his head.
“If it’s bothering you, you should be resting at the nurse’s office.
Why did you even come to school today?”
“I’m totally fine, sir, honestly,” Reian smiled, adjusting his lab coat.
“The cut is sealed, and it doesn’t hurt at all.
“Alright, if you say so.
Just be careful with the chemicals,” the teacher warned before walking away to check on another group.
Reian walked over to his assigned lab table.
He picked up a beaker of clear liquid, ready to begin the experiment.
But as he looked across the room, his eyes caught a familiar face.
It was her—the incredibly beautiful girl from yesterday.
The exact same girl whose striking looks had caused him to completely lose his train of thought the day before.
Instantly, the entire chaotic classroom seemed to fade into a blur.
Reian stared at her, utterly mesmerized.
His mind completely wandered off, replaying the way she smiled, the way the light hit her hair, and how badly he wanted to speak to her.
He was so deeply lost in his daydreams that he completely forgot what his hands were doing.
Without looking, Reian accidentally poured a highly reactive compound directly into the wrong chemical mixture.
BOOM!
A cloud of thick, gray smoke billowed into the air, coughing sounds breaking out through the room.
Flame,who was working at the next table, reacted with perfect ninja reflexes.
He didn’t waste a second.
“Reian, don’t move!” Flame shouted, dashing across the room to grab the nearest fire extinguisher to put out the small chemical fire before it could spread.
Reian coughed, waving his hands to clear the smoke from his face.But as the smoke cleared, his heart stopped.
Standing right in front of his table, looking at him through the thinning smoke, was the very girl he had been daydreaming about.
She had hurried over to see if he was okay.
Seeing her standing less than a foot away, Reian completely froze.
His mouth opened, but his brain went entirely blank.
He couldn’t form a single sentence, his face turning bright red as he gripped the edge of the table.
The girl tilted her head, her expressive eyes filled with genuine worry as she looked past the smoke and focused on the heavy white cloth wrapped around his arm.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly, her voice making his heart race.
She reached out toward his arm, her brow furrowed.
“How did you get that injury?”
hope you enjoyed the eighth chapter