Killian sat like a prince, almost as though the seat had been made exclusively for him. Meanwhile, Noah couldn’t have felt more uncomfortable.
What exactly was he trying to do?
Wasn’t this the same Killian who, according to the novel, found Ashton’s constant following irritating? He had practically considered it harassment back then, so why was he now breaking his own rule and refusing to leave him alone?
And to make matters worse...
The guy was a nerd.
One type of person Noah had always avoided throughout his life was nerds. They tended to be way too much to handle.
But this one...
Oh, fuck him.
"You’re encroaching on my personal space," Noah declared.
Killian merely shrugged.
"What a surprise," he replied calmly. "Because I don’t remember seeing your name written on either of these chairs."
That comeback nearly made Noah grind his teeth into dust.
He looked toward the untouched food in front of him before glancing around the cafeteria.
He still hadn’t eaten.
Classes would resume soon.
But what exactly did they even teach here?
Magic?
Spell casting?
Self-defense?
Monster hunting?
Whatever it was, he already knew this wasn’t an ordinary high school despite looking exactly like one.
Thinking about the fact that he’d transmigrated straight back into high school made him want to scream.
Seriously...
Out of every possible place...
Why school?
"Aren’t you going to eat that?"
Those emerald-green eyes stared at him with an intensity that made Noah uncomfortable.
It was almost as if Killian were trying to dissect him with nothing but his gaze.
Like some scientist studying an unusual specimen.
Unfortunately for him...
Noah wasn’t one.
"As I said, in case you’ve forgotten, that’s none of your business."
He pointed toward the opposite side.
"So mind freeing me."
Instead of taking offense...
Killian smiled again.
Noah groaned dramatically.
Seriously...
What was making him smile so much?
Was the guy secretly a psychopath?
Because this behavior had stopped making sense several minutes ago.
Without saying anything, Killian slipped a hand into his pocket.
He pulled out a small box before gently placing it on Noah’s side of the table.
Noah narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"...What’s that?"
"Another prank?"
Around them, the cafeteria slowly became quieter.
The students who had been gossiping stopped midway through their conversations just to watch what was happening.
Even Sylvia, who had been surrounded by her usual flock of desperate admirers, shifted her attention toward Noah and Killian.
The moment she noticed the small box...
Her expression visibly darkened.
"Whatever that is," Noah said, pushing it slightly away, "take it back."
"I’m not interested in getting buried ten feet underground."
"What the heck are you trying to do?"
"Get me killed?"
That only made Killian laugh harder.
Noah blinked.
Wait...
Laugh?
His skin prickled.
As far as everyone in school knew...
Killian didn’t smile.
Not once.
Not with anyone.
Not during classes.
Not around Sylvia.
Now here he was...
Actually laughing.
Why?
Even Sylvia seemed startled.
Who wouldn’t be?
The smile wasn’t loud or exaggerated.
It was soft.
Warm.
Almost ridiculously beautiful.
Deep dimples appeared on both cheeks, making him look far younger than his usual cold self.
Behind Sylvia, several girls quietly blushed.
Some covered their mouths.
Others squealed under their breaths.
None of them dared make it obvious.
Nobody wanted Sylvia catching them staring at her fiancé.
"Oh, Ashton."
Killian chuckled.
"I didn’t know you had such a fun side."
He leaned closer.
"Seeing you act this petty is surprisingly adorable."
"I almost feel like pinching your nose."
Noah nearly choked.
...Was this flirting?
The guy was shameless.
Didn’t he already have a fiancée?
Yet here he was openly flirting with another omega in public.
"Stop acting all handsome and leave my table."
The words escaped before Noah could stop them.
Immediately...
He realized he’d made a terrible mistake.
Killian froze.
A faint pink slowly spread across his cheeks before reaching the tips of his ears.
"You think I’m handsome?"
His voice sounded genuinely delighted.
"Oh dear..."
"I might actually dance."
He abruptly stood up.
"No!"
Noah quickly grabbed his wrist and forced him back into his seat before the idiot embarrassed not only himself but every generation that shared his bloodline.
Killian looked at the hand gripping him before smiling even wider.
"You pulled me back."
He tilted his head.
"So you don’t actually want me to leave."
"I’ll stay."
He rested his chin on one hand.
"You don’t have any friends anyway."
"So I’ll be your plus one."
Noah’s lips twitched.
First of all...
That wasn’t even what ’plus one’ meant.
Second...
Who said he didn’t have friends?
Well...
In his previous life, he really hadn’t.
People had only approached him because of his family’s wealth.
Eventually he stopped trusting anyone.
Being alone had simply become easier.
As for Ashton...
Judging from the memories and everyone’s attitude, his villain personality had probably driven away even the poorest omegas.
The guy had practically become an outcast.
Which meant...
Killian was pitying him.
Honestly...
Nothing could have been more embarrassing.
"I have friends."
He crossed his arms.
"Lots of them."
"You just don’t know them."
Killian let out an amused scoff.
"Really?"
He looked around dramatically.
"Maybe you’re talking about the cafeteria rats."
He pointed toward Noah’s untouched lunch.
"Speaking of which..."
"Aren’t you going to eat?"
"The next meal isn’t until evening."
"You don’t seriously plan on starving until then, do you?"
Noah sighed before looking back at the tray.
It actually looked delicious.
Unfortunately...
He didn’t have any cutlery.
"Stop snooping around like a mouse."
Killian nudged the small box closer.
"Open it."
"I brought you your own utensils."
"So you can use them whenever you eat."
Noah blinked.
He immediately opened the box.
Inside...
A neatly packed personal spoon, fork and chopsticks rested on a small velvet lining.
"...He actually did it."
Why would anyone go this far?
Well...
Whatever.
One thing Noah had learned long ago was never to throw a tantrum when food was involved.
The food hadn’t offended him.
Killian had.
There was no reason to punish innocent food.
Although it had already gone cold, Noah was starving enough not to care.
He immediately dug in.
The students nearby visibly relaxed once his attention shifted toward eating.
Even the trembling boy from earlier looked like he could finally breathe again.
Just one more scare and the poor guy might actually dive headfirst into his own lunch tray.
Killian simply watched Noah eat.
Silently.
Without saying another word.
It should have felt awkward.
Instead...
Noah gradually became aware of another distraction.
A scent.
Fresh vegetation.
Clean leaves after rainfall.
It drifted through the air until it completely surrounded him.
...Damn.
That smell was unbelievably soothing.
One of his favorites.
Could someone’s natural scent really be this calming?
No.
Enough.
He refused to fall under Killian’s spell.
Fortunately...
Sharp footsteps echoed through the cafeteria.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Sylvia arrived.
She stopped beside their table before speaking coldly.
"We have class now, Killian."
Then she added,
"You’re coming with me."
That wasn’t a request.
It sounded more like an order.
Almost instantly...
Killian’s warm expression disappeared.
His face returned to the cold, emotionless mask Noah recognized from the novel.
Without saying a single word, Killian stood.
He didn’t even glance at Sylvia.
Instead, he turned and walked away.
The chair scraped violently across the floor before toppling over.
Several smaller tables were shoved aside as he left.
The cafeteria became deathly quiet.
Only after Killian disappeared did Sylvia turn toward Noah.
Her gaze dripped with contempt.
Her lips curled into a poisonous smile.
Noah suddenly had a very bad feeling.
Something was about to happen.
Sure enough...
The moment Sylvia walked away, another crowd approached.
At their front stood a red-haired girl wearing a smug smile Noah hadn’t noticed before.
She stopped directly in front of him.
"Now then..."
"Useless one."
She folded her arms.
"Tell us."
"What exactly were you two talking about?"
Every omega around Noah scattered immediately.
Even the constantly trembling boy fled without looking back.
Noah sighed.
He didn’t want trouble.
Unfortunately...
Trouble had already found him.
He was surrounded from every direction.
But if these people expected him to cower in fear...
They had chosen the wrong person.
This wasn’t Ashton Lane.
This was Noah Evernight.
And Noah...
Didn’t scare easily.
He flashed them a grin.
"Hi, everyone."
He spread his hands innocently.
"Did you all come here to play?"
A slap flew toward his face.
Noah caught the wrist effortlessly.
His grin widened.
"Good."
"Let’s play."
He twisted aside, avoiding another attack.
Without taking his eyes off the advancing crowd, both hands shot forward.
Smack!
Smack!
Two clean slaps landed across two different faces.
The force sent both students stumbling backward, stars practically spinning above their heads.
Everyone froze.
For exactly one second.
Then the entire crowd charged at him together.
"You punk!"
"We’re going to make you regret being born today!"
Watching everything unfold from behind them, the red-haired leader simply smiled.
Exactly as she had planned.