"Welcome, I've been waiting for you," Luna said, her voice cutting through the cacophony of whispers that filled the hallway. The crowd's eyes were fixed on White, their murmurs painting a picture of curiosity and speculation. Why would the Council President, known for her strictness and rumored to suspend students on a whim, seek out an ordinary student like him? Their hushed tones seemed to suggest he was her next target.
White looked around, realizing everyone's eyes were on him.
'Why are they staring at me? Do they think I'm her next target?'
He glanced toward Luna, discomfort rising.
Well, I can't blame them. Even her smile can send chills down anyone's spine.
Noticing his unease amid the sea of stares, Luna clapped her hands sharply, commanding silence with a simple gesture. A hush fell over the crowd; her presence clearly commanded respect—or perhaps fear—from everyone in the school.
Taking a deep breath, she addressed the onlookers with a stern yet composed tone. "It seems some students have ample free time to eavesdrop on others' conversations. Such behavior could infringe upon the rights of your peers, don't you think?" Her gaze swept over the students, sharp and discerning, yet her lips curled into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
As if on cue, the crowd began to disperse, leaving them in a sudden pocket of privacy.
"Perhaps you could use a little break," she suggested, her tone softer now. "I wanted to have a word with you. But this isn't the right place. Would you mind joining me in the club room after school?" Without waiting for his response, she turned on her heel and strode away, leaving a trail of intrigue in her wake.
White stood there for a moment, processing the unexpected invitation.
*What could the Council President possibly want with me this time?*
With a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, he made his way to the classroom.
As he sat at his desk, lost in thought, Zen and Shu approached in a rush.
"Hey, are you alright? Did the President do anything to you?" Zen asked with concern.
"Ah… Ye—" White began, but Zen interrupted.
"I told you to stay away from her, but you didn't listen to my advice," Zen said sternly.
"No, that's not—" White tried to clarify, but Shu cut in.
"White, you were asking about her yesterday. Did something happen? If so, tell us; maybe we can help," she said, her voice laced with worry.
"Well, yester—" His response was cut short as Aris made her entrance into the classroom, standing beside her brother Zen.
"What did you do that made the president personally come to meet you?" she asked, gripping both his hands.
Shu looked at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and shock. "Ummm… You are?" she inquired, eager yet apprehensive.
"I am his future wife," Aris declared bluntly, her gaze fixed on Shu.
"Wh… Whatttt?" Shu's eyes darted between White and Aris in disbelief.
Zen, standing behind Aris, thumped her on the head with his fist. Aris winced, trying to soothe the pain by pressing her hair with both hands, a soft whimper escaping her lips.
"Maybe this will teach you a lesson. I've told you many times not to make such jokes; they can lead to misunderstandings," Zen chided.
Internally, White mused, *Nice, Zen. For once, you played the part of a good brother, albeit a small one.*
"But, Zen brother…" Aris began, only to be interrupted as Zen placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes serious.
"I'll say this once, and listen carefully, okay? White isn't interested in girls. You know he is ga—" Before he could finish, White punched him on the head with his fist.
"I was wrong to think you might actually have a good side, not just as a human, but as a brother," White retorted, watching Zen try to alleviate his pain by pressing his head.
"Shu, you don't need to listen to them," White said, turning to Shu, who stood in shock, murmuring to herself.
"White is a gaaaaa…" she mumbled, her voice trailing off.
"Hey, you don't need to listen to them," he reassured her.
As the school returned to its usual buzz, Zen decided it was time for introductions. "Shu, meet Aris, my younger sister," he said with a smile.
Aris stepped forward with a confident grin. "Hey there, I'm Aris. You might have heard about me—I'm pretty well-known in the junior class," she declared, her pride evident in her voice.
Shu blinked in surprise, her response tinged with embarrassment. "Oh… um, I'm sorry, but I haven't," she admitted, then quickly added, "I'm Shu, a friend of your brother Zen," trying to mask her nervousness.
Aris's brow furrowed in confusion. "Really? You've never heard of me? But why, and how…?" she mumbled, her thoughts trailing off.
Shu attempted to bridge the gap. "I'm sorry, it's just that I don't really have many friends," she said softly, but Aris seemed lost in her own world.
Zen intervened, "You don't need to explain," he reassured Shu before turning to White. "So, what's the latest with the president?" he inquired curiously.
White hesitated, the truth on the tip of his tongue. "Well, not much. I met her yesterday. She wanted to discuss something about…" He paused, contemplating the wisdom of full disclosure.
Choosing discretion, he continued, "Yeah, she needs my help with something," he offered vaguely.
Zen raised an eyebrow. "But why does she need your help? There are plenty of brilliant students at school—why you?" he pressed.
White pondered for a moment before responding, "She's curious about how I managed to score 100 on the last test. As an average student, she believes I can provide insight into how others might improve themselves. She's looking to assist other students."
"That's it?" all three echoed in unison.
"Yes, she wants to meet so she can extend help to others," White explained, hoping his excuse would hold.
Zen let out a sigh of relief. "Good, I was worried you'd be her next target," he said.
Shu nodded in agreement. "I was concerned too, but if that's the reason, then it's fine. It's a bit odd that she wants to help others, though. Maybe the rumors aren't true," she pondered.
As Shu spoke, the school bell signaling the start of the first period rang, prompting everyone to take their seats. Zen and Shu headed to their desks, and just before Aris departed, she leaned in with a plea.
"Please, keep my job a secret from Zen, okay?" she whispered, then hurried away.
The final bell of the day rang out across the school.
As usual, Zen made his way to his club, and Shu left to visit her grandmother. Alone with his thoughts, White decided it was time to meet Luna. She had mentioned she'd be in the club room. Upon arrival, he found her seated comfortably, sipping her tea. She greeted him warmly and poured a cup for him as well.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" he inquired.
Luna glanced around, seemingly searching for someone. "Well, I just need to confirm something, but first, where's Bell?" she asked.
"I left her at home; she was a bit of trouble yesterday," White replied.
Luna nodded, then hesitated. "Ah, what I wanted to say is…"