"What did you just say to , you no talent bastard?" The guy leaned closer to my face and said.
At this point, it was a little, but a considerable amount of attention was slowly drawn towards us.
I could feel the gazes of many, and hear the whispers of more. So pointed, so watched with anticipation, and others with curiousity.
As if relishing the situation, the black haired guy chuckled with his peers surrounding . He probably felt good about himself for picking on soone he presud weaker.
"Hey, is that him...?"
"What? No way... You an the guy with the lowest assesnt? I thought that was just a rumour..."
"I think he's... Rank 1499... He's on the board too."
"No, it wasn't a rumour. I rember. I was there when he's assesnt was revealed..."
"Is that even possible? That's pathetic. What's soone like him doing here? Not only is his assessnt the lowest, but he's also ranked the bottom too..."
Inevitably, I began to hear the whispers and feel the curious gazes directed at . The hallway was already mostly packed with a small crowd of student, so the little commotion I found myself in was already drawing unnecessary attention.
And as if spurred on by the Whispers and fingers pointing my way, the short haired guy chuckled and pressed forward against .
"What? Cat got your tongue? Keke."
Strangely, this was both oddly amusing, and unpleasantly annoying. I was already quite fund of situations like this from earth, but they were from so long ago, that experiencing it right now, with on the victim side once more — it all seems like a dream.
It took a short second for to snap out of my reverie and assud an indifferent expression.
"Excuse , but do you need sothing from ?" I said quietly.
Judging from his uniform, I could imdiately tell he wasn't a senior, and was most likely a first year like myself. And the sa was so from his two friends who circled around from the sides.
"Oh, no. Nothing much, really,"
In response to my question, the grin on his face curled slightly as he shrugged dismissively.
Then he sent a sly smile, leaning closer to exact so kind of nonexistent imposing pressure.
"I was just thinking actually. Worried, is more like it. Might be a little hard for soone like you to survive in a place like this. So and my friends here are willing to help you out a little, eh?"
"..."
Extortion, huh... I restrained a sigh, and rubbed the bronze ring on my finger hidden in my pocket.
"Oh, I see. Thank you, I appreciate the offer, but I'll have to decline. I'll be fine. If that's all then..."
"Huh? Where do you think you're going?"
Before I could leave, the guy reached out to firmly grab my arm and held back.
"Didn't you're mom ever tell you —"
His grip around my hand tightened.
"Don't turn away when soone's talking to you?" He said ominously next to my ear, his voice like a low growl vibrated in the air.
I glanced down from the side of my eyes at his firm grip against my arm.
This won't do... inevitably, I sighed inwardly and resisted the impulse to shake my head.
If possible, I wanted to resolve this calmly and peacefully without any accidents. It was already bad enough my Assessnt was bringing all of this unnecessary attention.
In the first place, it wasn't supposed to be like that.
But watching those bastards do as they like with for only this long, I rembered an almost forgotten ancient and distant aspect of mine.
No, a characteristic or personality trait of 'Zach Harper' from 'his' younger days at school.
'Ah, how annoying...'
I always had a bad temper, didn't I?
In the end...
"Hey..." I uttered cooly.
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't let this bastard walk over like that.
"Hands off on the count of three." This ti it was I who leaned in closer to him and whispered into his ears
A chilling cool filled my mind as my thoughts beca cold as I calmly gazed at him.
Then slowly,
"One..."
I counted...
"Two..."
"...H-huh? What's this basta—"
"Hey, hands off already!"
All of a sudden a different voice cut through the tension from the side, seizing the atmosphere montarily and my thoughts halted briefly.
'What...'
I retracted my gaze and turned towards the source of the direction and...
There he was.
I wanted to choke!
Why...
No!
What is this bastard doing here?!
"Didn't you hear ? I said, let him go..." A young man with pale snow white hair and ghostly deep blue eyes furrowed his brows threateningly as he stood before and the bully.
Alexander Crossfield...
That damned hero himself, in all of his hateful glory...
Stood imposingly before us!
At first sight, I felt all of my composure crumble, and I wasn't even the one who was directly receiving the fiery gaze and animosity from him.
At a glance, Alexander was here to probably defend against my behalf, but...
Why?!
Don't co any close, you bastard!
No! Stay away from ! Why are you here?!
Why was he here?
I was sincerely in turmoil about this for no reason.
But why would he show up right here, and right now in a mont like this.
What the hell is the Hero doing here?
No, really, go back!
I don't want your help!
Ah, but of course, all of my internal pleas fell on the deaf ears of the universe, and I felt a portion od my soul leave my body a I saw Alex continue to approach.
Rather than walk away and disappear as I so desperately desired, the hateful bastard stepped closer and firmly grasped the hand that was holding mine.
"What do you think you're doing, picking on soone on the first day? Have you no sha?" He growled, and the face of the bully grew fiercer upon his intervention.
He had an expression that plainly said, who the hell is this fucker, and yes! I couldn't help but agree!
No really, who the hell is this fucker?!
"Uhm..." Unable to withstand the odd situation any longer, I ended up humming.
The guy and Alex kept holding eachother's glare, completely dismissing my existence despite being being the victim and the center of attention.
As if snapped back to reality, I watched the guy click his tongue, and his forr grip around my arm slowly withdrew. At the sa ti, he forcefully broke free from Alex's hold and stepped back slightly.
I could see the pensive and stern faces of his pals by his side. In the end, even these idiots could understand that if this went on more than this, an incident might escalate.
There were still various first years as onlookers who held their breaths. Chances even were so among them might be the ones to invite a teacher or an instructor into this.
The bastard's face didn't give much, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he could at least think this complexly.
He glared at Alexander then turned back to . I t his gaze with an unreadable gaze, masking my thoughts, as his scowl slowly blossod into a sinister smile full of malevolence and malice.
He shrugged.
"I already said it, I was just helping out a buddy. It was nothing too serious."
If he said so, then it probably should be... I thought silently, without bothering too much about his alibi incase this commotion does get to a teacher eventually.
"You should be careful where you walk next ti, pal."
And with a chuckle, leaving those words behind, the three guys slowly walked away at a asured pace.
The small crowd parted slightly along their paths, and slowly the figures of their backs vanished down the hallway.
"Haa..." I sighed slightly.
Surprisingly, that was actually a bit nerve wracking.
***
"...Are you okay?"
"Hm? Oh...uh, yeah. I'm alright, actually."
What the hell is this bastard still doing here?
After the small commotion dissolved itself before anything could escalate, I blended with the crowd and quietly left the hallway.
I was standing right outside, under the midday sun when I heard a familiar voice from my side.
Right by my side, next to , was the hero of prophecy, Alexander with an expression full of concern and consideration as he looked at .
Upon my response, Alexander smiled warmly, dazzlingly even.
For whatever reason, the snow white bastard had followed and stuck with until now. I had no idea why he followed outside either.
'Tsk.' even his smile is hateful!
Why did I hate this guy so much?
No, no. It's not a matter of actual hate, even I know that's prematured. But ever since the second vision where I, more or less, first t him, I've had a partially unfavorable impression of the bastard.
He still had the balls to boast about winning after the whole world was dead.
And there was also the matter of the strange system notifications...
"I'm glad to hear that. Oh, my na is Alexander Crossfield by the way. But you can call Alex if you want. You're Number 1499, right? We're in the sa class too!"
Unexpectedly, he began to behave all familiar with .
No! Leave alone, do not introduce yourself personally to !
We are not going to be friends!
I had those words threatening to burst out of my mouth, when I curtly gave him a glance from the side.
"...Yeah."
Alex said nothing more and just stared at .
I glanced forward and stared emptily into the vacant air.
Phew, I almost got worked up back there... I thought, thinking back to a few minutes ago. Upon retrospection I might have gotten slightly agitated even though I was in control.
It's been a while since I've nearly lost my temper that way too... I restrained a sigh and turned to my side where a particularly exasperating gaze threatened to bore a hole through .
"...what?"
Indeed, Alexander was still here, staring uncomfortably at .
Then he smiled brightly at .
"I said my na is na is Alexander."
"I heard the first ti." I nodded.
"..."
"...Haa... Victor. Just...call Victor."
I don't like this
"Hehe, Victor, it's nice to et you."
Watching Alexander smiled and chuckle to himself with satisfaction, I felt sothing churn inside of .
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