After that sudden news, the air around Mei took an abrupt shift. She was usually outgoing and seemed like a bright person with a constant smile on her face.
That wasn't the case anymore. In fact, if anyone were to look at her now, they'd think her previous temperament was only an act, and that this was the real Raiden Mei.
I had completely forgotten what caused the outbreak, but now that I was seeing it in person, I had a feeling it had everything to do with the current situation.
When we returned to the classroom, no one walked up to her, not even her supposed friends. What hurt the most were the looks worn on their faces, as if they were saying they didn't know anyone named Raiden Mei at all.
They acted as if she didn't exist as she walked toward her seat with me following behind. Her steps came to a halt right next to her desk, and for a moment, she turned to look at her seatmate, the one who had claimed they'd be best friends forever.
And yet, Tsuna remained expressionless in her seat, as if she couldn't sense Mei's gaze. The flamboyant attitude was long gone, replaced by the cold reality of a puppet told to stay quiet.
When I reached out and patted her shoulder from behind, Mei flinched for a split second, as if she hadn't expected it. Then, she turned to look at me. Our eyes met, and I didn't look away, not while her whole vibe seemed to be gradually sinking into the abyss.
One look was enough for me to understand that she felt small and helpless at the sudden shift in everyone around her. I knew that feeling well: the sense of helplessness when a world that once seemed bright and beautiful suddenly turns dark and heavy.
"Have a seat."
My voice was soft, but clear enough for Mei and the nearest students to hear. I didn't say much, just a gentle reminder that we were still in a classroom and the teacher would soon walk in.
She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but no words came out before she slowly nodded and sat down.
I stepped forward to the desk behind her and took my seat. I could feel the students discreetly glancing my way, but I pretended not to notice. Or rather, I was holding myself back from showing them a waking nightmare through Mist Flame.
I hadn't realized a so-called prestigious academy could look so ugly at the flip of a switch. This place cared very little for genuine human connections; instead, it functioned as a fake paradise where parents used their kids to strive toward a single, unified goal: prosperity.
That was why her friends didn't dare say a word or show any reaction toward her. After all, the people pulling their parents' strings might ostracize them the same way they were currently casting Mei aside. And the fallout wouldn't end there.
When the math teacher finally stepped into the classroom, the lesson resumed normally, or at least, that was the impression an outsider would get if they just peeked through the door.
In reality however, it was anything but normal.
When Mei instinctively raised her hand to answer a question on the blackboard, another student simultaneously did the same. Instead of calling on the person who raised their hand first, the math teacher hesitated for a moment before choosing the latter.
My eyes narrowed at the uncomfortable sight. It wasn't that the teacher was doing it out of malice, but rather out of coercion. The hesitation said it all, yet they still succumbed to the pressure.
After all, they might be a teacher at a prestigious academy, but they didn't wield nearly as much power and influence as the parents who sent their children here.
One single mistake could cost them their high-paying job. So it wasn't surprising that they chose the safer option, despite their true feelings clashing against it.
An experienced gambler would always go with the safe, winning bet over an unpredictable risk because the trauma of past losses constantly plagued their mind.
It is human nature to choose the comfortable path where everything is secure rather than the hellish road with a mere possibility of a greater reward at the end of the tunnel.
If I hadn't received the Chaos Gacha alongside my transmigration to this world, maybe I too would have given up on trying to rewrite its destiny.
Fortunately, that wasn't the case. I already had the means to an end.
[★ Feat Achieved! Display the resilience and desire to rewrite a predetermined destiny!]
[You gained x1 Trait Gold Ticket!]
...A trait? Hell, I didn't know a shift in my mindset could count as a feat. But a free ticket and a brand-new category I didn't know existed were always welcome.
Looking at Raiden Mei's lonely back in front of me, my thoughts drifted to the ticket I had just received.
[Rolling the Trait Gold Gacha.]
[Nature's Child]
|Rare Trait|
Nature subtly favors you. You tend to find fresh, healthy fruit when you go out for walks, you can grow a garden with minimal care, and animals and beings aligned with nature are more favorable toward you. In addition, you recover energy faster the closer you are to nature.
A way to quickly recover energy by being close to nature... That's not bad. It could also come in handy for my future retirement plan if I decide to pick up gardening.
Afterward, I kept a constant eye on Mei until the bell finally rang to signify the end of the school day. She usually took her time leaving because her friends always had something to say, which ended up stalling her every time.
However, that wasn't the case today. She quickly packed her things, stood up, and walked toward the door as if trying to escape the stiff, suffocating atmosphere plaguing the classroom.
I didn't let her get far before calling out to her.
"Mei, wait!"
Her steps came to an abrupt pause in the hallway. When I finally caught up to her, she didn't seem upset that I had dropped the formalities and called her by her first name.
I pulled out my flip phone and handed it to her. At first, she stared at the device like it was a foreign object, as if she couldn't understand the significance behind my action. Then, she looked up and saw a small, reassuring smile forming on my face.
"Your number. You don't mind sharing it with me, right?"