Chapter 16：Top Duo (1/2)
”I had no idea you attended this place, Noah,” Arthur said as he looked at his old friend from middle school. He was coming to the academy when he saw someone shoving his hands to the pockets of another student and taking his wallet. He was about to ignore it as that was common and he wouldn't be the hero who stands up for everyone at his own expense. It was then that he saw the face of the student and realized he was his old friend from middle school.
”I… I never thought I'd see you today, and here on top of that. Your sash… You're A-Class? Did you awaken a powerful ability?” Noah was still stunned by the turn of events that took place just earlier. The person who always took his money, Isaac, clashed with his old best friend from middle school who he hasn't seen for years. Everything was surreal and even more, Arthur looked different.
Arthur laughed as he simply said he got here by connections. As he saw Noah staring at his eyes, he realized they were the biggest change that happened to him and proceeded to tell Noah that it was a result of his ability.
”Are you sure you don't need to go to the infirmary?” Arthur asked with worry as he saw Noah wipe the blood off his nose. It seems Isaac had hit him as he was trying to take his money. Noah simply shook his head and stood up.
”Let me show you around. It's the least I could do for not asking about you all these years.” Noah extended his hand and Arthur took it.
”Don't say that. We both had a lot on our plate.” Arthur shook his head and the two people headed toward the classrooms as they were chatting. After agreeing to meet at the arcade later, the two split up and Arthur headed toward his class.
As he walked in, the class's attention was directed toward him as they began to scrutinize him. Arthur expected this with his unusual circumstances. He found an empty seat and headed there.
”Is this seat taken?” Arthur asked a red-headed guy sitting next to the empty seat.
”Oh, it is. You can sit here with no problem.” The student glanced at the seat and replied. As the students didn't bring anything with them, as most of the classes were recorded online with notes, they didn't need to bring anything such as books or notes. They can just go back home and find everything they need on the website. Furthermore, not many awakeners cared about studying as they did for power assessments.
”Thanks, I'm Arthur.” Arthur sat down and kept chatting with him. He found this student to be easy going and had a good personality.
”I'm Markus. Usually, people say my eyes' color is weird. Yours are on another level… Is that natural?” Markus seemed to be the straightforward blunt type as he asked Arthur a personal question from the start. However, Arthur gave the excuse he gave to others without being offended. The two kept chatting until Arthur felt a person stand beside him.
”That's my seat.” It was a blonde female student with a pony-tail hair. She had black eyes and a cold expression that Arthur could swear that it made the room chillier.
”It is? I thought…” Arthur was confused and turned to Markus who was trying to hold back his laughter. He didn't understand what was so funny and he apologized before moving to another seat. It seemed this girl wasn't picking on him, but Markus playing a prank on the new transfer student.
”Why did you do that?” Amelia sat down with her new strawberry milk as she asked Markus.
”I just wanted to piss him off a bit, but it seems I failed. It seems he's a lot more mature than most students here.” Markus shook his head as if he just analyzed Arthur's personality.