The teacher’s shout still echoed in the classroom like a whip crack.
“YOUNG LADIES!”
The man, red with fury, strode between the desks. His shadow stretched long under the white light of the tall windows. The marble floor seemed to vibrate with every step. The echo bounced off the noble wood-paneled walls, thickening the tension until it felt almost solid.
Hilda pushed herself up, massaging her jaw. A thin trail of bloody saliva ran from the corner of her mouth. Ellie retreated until she was behind Madeline, her brown pigtails trembling like antennae sensing danger. Daisy remained on the floor, her ash-blonde hair a mess and her violet eyes wide open, still processing what had just happened.
I stayed still, fists clenched, on guard.
(Shit. Excalibur shifted again with that last jump. Focus, Sienna. This isn’t over.)
The teacher stopped in front of us. His navy-blue suit was impeccable, but his slightly crooked tie gave away that he had been running. He smelled of expensive cologne and something else… cold sweat. His gaze was calculating, patient, like a feline sizing up its prey before the pounce. He wasn’t looking at the culprits. He was looking at the prey.
“I see you have the same respect for the rules of this institution as a lion has for a cub that isn’t its own.”
His voice was deep and thick, dragging out the syllables as if he were savoring every word. The silence that followed was so dense I could hear the ticking of Ellie’s wristwatch.
Madeline didn’t waste a second. She stepped toward him with a smooth, feline gait. Her emerald-green bangs fell across her face like curtains of moss. Her patent-leather shoes barely made a sound on the marble.
“Master Hayato…” she whispered, tilting her head with practiced humility. “We have failed you. And the school.”
And then, to everyone’s astonishment, she knelt.
The sound of her knees hitting the marble was dry. It reverberated through the silence like a distant gunshot.
(What the hell…? Is she faking it or is she actually scared of him?)
Daisy grabbed my arm and whispered, trembling:
“Sienna… I think we’re in trouble…”
“Shut it,” I muttered without taking my eyes off the teacher.
Hayato let out a short, nasal laugh that sent ice down my spine. He leaned toward Madeline and whispered something in her ear. His lips barely moved, but Madeline’s eyes closed in almost religious obedience. She looked like a doll receiving instructions from her puppeteer.
Then Madeline stood up with the same grace she had knelt with. She smoothed her skirt slowly and smiled. A perfect smile. Too perfect.
“It seems… it was all a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” Daisy burst out, indignant.
I squeezed her hand hard.
“Don’t say anything,” I whispered through gritted teeth.
(That guy is dangerous. I know carnivores when I see them. This one doesn’t just hunt… he plays with his food before swallowing it.)
“At least it’s settled,” Daisy said in a tiny voice.
I nodded without conviction. The teacher was staring at us, and his eyes held no forgiveness. Only the patience of a predator.
“Yeah…” I said slowly. “At least we can sit down.”
We were already turning around, the premature relief loosening my shoulders, when his voice struck us again.
“And who told you this was over?”
I spun around. Hayato had crossed his arms. His smile was as thin as the edge of freshly cut paper.
(Tch… Has this bastard already been bought by Madeline? Or is there more?)
He stepped in front of us. The silence was so thick I could hear my own pulse in my ears.
“You two will come with me to the director’s office,” he declared. “What you have done to Miss Madeline and her companions is unforgivable.”
“But they started it!” Daisy protested.
I clapped a hand over her mouth before she could finish. (Idiot, don’t give him more ammo. Every word we say will be used against us.)
“Is that so?” I looked him straight in the eyes.
He didn’t blink. His face was a stone mask. Not a single muscle moved.
“It is. Now do as I say before—”
“Hahahahaha!”
A loud, free, almost insolent laugh sliced through the air like a scythe through a wheat field.
We all turned toward the door.
There, leaning against the frame as if she were in a bar and not an elite classroom, stood a woman who couldn’t have been more different from the school’s rigid atmosphere.
She was beautiful, yes, but in a wild, disheveled way. Her dark-green hair fell in messy waves over her shoulders, as if she had just woken from a nap. Her white blouse was rolled up to her elbows, revealing toned forearms, and her pencil skirt hugged generous hips. And her breasts… large, firm, straining against the fabric of her blouse as if they wanted to break free.
(Focus, Sienna. Potential enemy. Don’t look at her tits. Don’t look at her tits. Shit, you already looked.)
“Look at you abusing your power like this, solely because you’re a man…” the woman said, wiping a tear of laughter with the back of her hand. “Hayato, you’re pathetic.”
The teacher clenched his fists. His knuckles cracked.
“This has nothing to do with you, Nova. Why don’t you go see if you can finally get a man to notice you.”
The two stared at each other, the tension filling the classroom with static electricity. The air grew heavy, like right before a storm. Nova didn’t flinch. Hayato snorted.
I took advantage of the moment. I crossed my arms and put on my best sarcastic teenage tone—the one that had gotten me in so much trouble in my previous life as Dani.
“Could you please show us to the director’s office?” I asked with fake sweetness, like someone asking for directions to an ice-cream parlor.
Both turned toward me.
Hayato flashed a triumphant smile.
“See, Nova? The criminals admi—”
“And when did I ever say I was guilty?” I interrupted, raising an eyebrow with complete calm. “Please don’t put words in my mouth.”
Silence.
The teacher’s smile froze like a puddle in winter. His eyes narrowed into two dark slits. For a second, I saw something dangerous flash in them.
Nova let out another laugh and pointed at him, almost childish.
“Look at you showing your obvious bias against a student! How pathetic for someone who once had so much prestige.”
“Silence!” Hayato roared.
His voice boomed against the walls. He approached us with heavy steps, each one a silent threat. His shadow swallowed us completely, blocking the light from the windows.
“Follow me. And don’t speak another word.”
Nova stepped away from the door with a mocking smile and made an exaggerated “after you” gesture, like a sarcastic butler.
“Hahaha, I’ll come too, girls. Don’t be scared.”
I sighed under my breath. (Not the best card… but at least it’s support. And she seems to hate Hayato as much as I do.)
When I tried to walk, the pain in my ankle shot through me like a hot needle.
“Ah…!”
I stumbled. The marble floor rushed dangerously toward my face.
Held.
Daisy’s arm caught me before I fell. Her grip was firm, surprisingly strong for her delicate build.
“Don’t worry, Sienna. I’ve got you,” she said with a smile that tried to be brave but trembled at the corners.
“Thanks, Daisy,” I murmured, leaning on her shoulder.
(Damn ankle. Damn fight. And damn Excalibur that doesn’t help with balance at all.)
The second-floor hallway was a gallery of white marble and colored stained glass. Morning light filtered through the panes, painting the floor with patterns of amber, sapphire, and ruby. Our footsteps echoed in the silence: tap-tap from my limping steps, tap-tap-tap from Daisy adjusting to my pace.
Every classroom we passed looked more luxurious than the last. Through half-open doors I caught glimpses of noble-wood desks with gold inlays, touch-screen monitors embedded in the walls, shelves lined with century-old books that smelled of old paper. Everything screamed money. Old money—the kind you don’t show off, you just breathe.
Daisy walked beside me, shoulders slumped, eyes fixed on the floor. Her pink-and-blonde hair hid her face.
“Sienna…” she whispered, barely audible. “Why didn’t you let me speak? I’m sure my dad could…”
“He won’t, Daisy,” I cut in quietly, eyes still forward. “They don’t call parents here. They prefer to punish us in private so the scandal doesn’t leave these walls.”
“Huh? But nothing happened to Madeline’s group…”
“She has a deal with Hayato.”
Daisy’s eyes widened like saucers. Her violet irises sparkled with disbelief.
“With the teacher? Sure, he and the science teacher are the only men in the whole school… but still, what could they possibly gain from that?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’ll find out.”
(A carnivore doesn’t make deals with prey unless the prey has something he wants… or unless the prey is actually another predator in disguise. What is Madeline offering Hayato? Money? Influence? Or something more… personal?)
We climbed to the third floor. The stairs were flanked by marble busts of the academy’s old benefactors. Stern faces with names engraved on gold plaques watched us in silence. Their stone eyes seemed to judge us with every step.
At the end of the corridor, massive carved oak doors rose like the entrance to a temple. The reliefs showed allegorical scenes: women with books, scales, swords, and laurels. The bronze handle was solid, worn by decades of hands.
Professor Hayato and Teacher Nova stopped in front of them. The contrast between them was almost comical: he stood rigid as an ice statue, while she leaned against the wall with her arms crossed under her chest, making her blouse stretch even tighter.
“Enter when we call you,” Hayato said without looking at us, his thick voice already grating on my nerves.
And both disappeared behind the doors, which closed with a soft but final click.
The office smelled of old wood, black tea, and printed paper. A mix of scents that should have been welcoming but here felt oppressive, as if the air itself carried authority.
The director, a woman in her fifties with silver hair pulled into a severe bun, stood with her back to us, gazing out the window overlooking the inner garden. Her pearl-gray suit was impeccable. Her hands, clasped behind her back, didn’t move.
“Good morning, Director,” Nova greeted with a slight bow that wasn’t entirely respectful. “Sorry for the intrusion.”
Hayato, on the other hand, burst in like a storm. His footsteps echoed on the parquet floor.
“We have two troublemaking students who need urgent punishment!”
The director turned slowly. The movement was deliberate, ceremonial. Her gray eyes were like two cold coins, without shine, without emotion.
“Two? As far as I know, there were five the last time I checked.”
“Five?!” Hayato nearly spat the word. “Are you trying to incriminate our dear class president with those two scum?”
“Both of you, shut up!” The director raised her hand and silence fell like an axe over the room.
She stood and walked toward the window again, turning her back to us once more. The morning light outlined her silhouette against the stained glass, tinting it in gold and crimson tones.
“Both of you… could you recite the school motto for me?”
Nova and Hayato glanced at each other. A moment of confusion. Then, in unison, they recited:
“Forging a new tomorrow through work and commitment.”
“Exactly,” said the director, clenching her fist and raising it high. The gesture was theatrical, rehearsed. “We do not educate criminals or the scum of society. We educate those who will carry our nation’s tomorrow. For peace, progress, and prosperity!”
She lowered her fist and turned. Her previously stern face now wore a cunning smile. The change was so sudden it reminded me of a predator removing its disguise.
“And what better opportunity for prestige than having a male graduate in our institution?”
Hayato lowered his gaze. His posture slumped slightly.
“Forgive me, Director… I know it’s your goal, but we haven’t had a male student in over a decade and a half…”
Nova dropped into the chair in front of the desk, crossing her legs with casual flair. Her pencil skirt rode up a little, revealing a firm thigh. (Focus, Sienna. Important conversation. Don’t look at the thighs.)
“Besides, Director, even if we could accept one… wouldn’t he choose New Haven Prep? Those girls have a reputation for being… let’s say… more liberal.”
“Hehe…” The director leaned on the desk, eyes sparkling like a poker player about to reveal her hand. “Under normal circumstances, yes. But look at this.”
She dropped a newspaper onto the table. The impact was soft, but the headline hit like a hammer:
“New Haven Students Involved in Massive Brawl. Witnesses Claim It Started When an Individual Known as ‘A-senpai’ Was Having Indecent Encounters with Members of Both Sides. Toll: 39 Injured, 2 Incapacitated, and Only 2 Arrested.”
Nova read it aloud, dragging the words with sarcasm. When she finished, she whistled.
“Wow, quite the scandal. And what does this have to do with us?”
The director interlaced her fingers over the newspaper, resting her chin on them.
“It’s our best chance. According to a contact in the education department, as a measure to encourage student competitiveness, they will be transferring a male student to this city. Some schools already have several. This is our opportunity to get one. And if we do, the prestige of this academy will skyrocket. Donations. Enrollment. National recognition.”
Hayato swallowed hard. The sound was audible in the quiet office. He knew that if he mentioned the incident from a few minutes ago, he would only cause problems. His plan to punish us was crumbling in the face of a bigger priority.
Nova, on the other hand, smiled sideways and glanced at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“All that sounds very good, Director… but we have a small problem.”
“A problem?” The director frowned. “I hope it’s nothing serious. At a time like this, we cannot allow anything to reach outside ears.”
“You see, five students had a…” Nova began, savoring every syllable while watching Hayato sweat.
“STUDY MEETING FOR THE UPCOMING EXAMS!”
Hayato’s shout was so loud I was sure they heard it all the way to the garden. The stained-glass windows vibrated slightly.
(Shit. Exams?)
My stomach tightened. In my previous life as Dani, exams were never a problem. But in this body, in this life as Sienna… how much did I actually know? How much did I remember from the classes I was supposedly attending?
Daisy went pale in an instant. All the color drained from her cheeks as if someone had opened a faucet.
“E-Exams?! Sienna, I haven’t studied at all! If my grades drop… Dad won’t come for my birthday…”
Her violet eyes filled with a watery shine. Her lips trembled. For a moment, the eccentric girl in the Victorian dress disappeared, leaving only a scared little girl afraid of disappointing her father.
I squeezed her hand tightly. Her fingers felt cold against mine.
“Don’t worry, Daisy. We can study together. I’ll help you.”
She looked at me with a mix of hope and gratitude. A single tear rolled down her cheek before she wiped it away with the back of her hand.
“Do you really mean that?”
“Of course. What are friends for?”
I smiled to reassure her, but inside my gears were spinning at full speed.
(First survive this. Then deal with the exams. And after that… figure out what the hell Madeline is plotting with Hayato. And while I’m at it, find Misaki. Where is she? Has she heard about the fight yet?)
The director raised an eyebrow. She knew something smelled off, but at a moment like this she couldn’t afford to lose focus. Her priority was clear: the male student.
“Well… if there’s nothing else to report, return to your classrooms. And remember to come back at the end of the day. I have news to give you. About our… future student.”
Nova stood up without waiting for her to finish and left the office with a carefree stride, humming a tune I didn’t recognize under her breath.
The director sighed, massaging her temples.
“A free spirit, as always… I wish she would channel that energy into something productive.”
Hayato lingered for a second longer, head bowed. He looked like a beaten dog.
“Professor,” the director called before he could leave. “End of the day. Don’t forget.”
“Yes, Director,” he murmured in a monotone voice.
He left, closing the door softly, as if afraid of breaking it. In the hallway, he glared at us. His eyes were two embers of contained hatred.
“You two… back to your classroom. And I don’t want to hear a single word about this. Understood?”
Nova, who was already walking away, winked at us over her shoulder and disappeared down the hallway, humming and swaying her hips with carefree ease.
(Who the hell is that woman? And why did she help us? What does she gain by standing up to Hayato?)
Daisy supported me as we limped back toward the classroom. The hallway felt endless.
“Sienna…” Daisy whispered. “Do you think everything will be okay?”
I squeezed her hand.
“It’ll be fine. Trust me.”
(I have no idea if it’ll be fine. But I can’t tell her that. Not now.)