Silence.
Crow flew past.
It was the heaviest, most suffocating silence they'd ever shared.
Ariz's words hung in the air like a bomb.
And then—
"Y-YOU DID WHAT?!"
Vivi practically screeched, shooting out of her seat, her voice laced with shock and—most obvious of all—jealousy. Her earlier embarrassment vanished like it never existed.
Ayaka, meanwhile, began muttering under her breath, a hand covering her face as her embarrassment steadily escalated.
"H-How did this boy turn into such a… such a little letch? Doing that with his professor? My god… Ariz… touching a woman like that…"
Her voice grew smaller and smaller as her cheeks turned redder and redder.
Rachel was the only one who looked even remotely composed, but even she stared with wide eyes, lips parted slightly. A faint flicker of jealousy passed through her gaze—so subtle even she didn't notice it.
In Ariz's head, Ava exploded into laughter.
[HAHAHA—baby, what a way to start a story…]
Ariz winced.
"W-Wait—WAIT—just hear me out!" he sputtered, raising both hands defensively. "It's not what it sounds like!"
Vivi slammed both palms onto the table.
"NOT what it sounds like?! You grabbed a woman's chest! A PROFESSOR'S! Y-You… you absolute pervert!!" Her ears were red. Her face was red. Her soul was probably red.
Rachel gently tugged Vivi's sleeve before she could launch herself across the table and strangle him.
"Calm down. Let him talk. Maybe his… tongue slipped."
Vivi reluctantly sat back down, but the death glare never left her face.
[You poked the bear, baby… whistle whistle~]
Ayaka was still spiraling.
"What a bad boy… touching a woman like that… how shameless… oh dear…"
Ariz glanced at her and became speechless. Then he clapped his hands together sharply.
"Alright—STOP! I'll tell you everything from the start."
He took a steadying breath.
"It began on the bus home from the academy. It was crowded, so I sat in the empty seat by the doors. I noticed Professor Layla sitting across the aisle. Everything was normal until the driver suddenly slammed the brakes."
He continued, gesturing slightly. "She was thrown from her seat and landed right on me. Reflexively I put my hands in front of me… but who would know her boobs would end up in my hands… they were so soft, and big-"
"Ahem." Rachel cleared her throat sharply, her arm still holding back Vivi, who was practically ready to smack he shit out of ariz.
Ariz coughed and continued quickly, "Before I could even understand what happened, she reacted on instinct and slapped me."
Vivi's expression blossomed into the most satisfied smirk she'd worn all day.
"But that wasn't the end," he said. "The bus lurched again, and I, already dizzy, stumbled and fell straight out of the open doors."
All three women gasped
"As I fell," Ariz continued, voice dropping, "a car was speeding right at me. I could see the driver was panicking, trying to brake, but I knew it was too late. At that moment… I really thought I was going to die."
"WHAT?!"
All three voices fused into one terrified shout.
Ayaka immediately grabbed his arms and shoulders, checking frantically for injuries, her touch trembling with worry.
"Relax, relax," Ariz said gently, catching her hands. "I'm standing right here, aren't I? Professor Layla pulled me back onto the bus at the very last second. And I think the shock and adrenaline triggered my awakening. The filth on my clothes earlier… those were the impurities expelled during the awakening."
"Thank the heavens…" Ayaka breathed, finally slumping in relief. The others mirrored her, tension draining slowly from their bodies.
"Well," Ariz said, a bright grin spreading across his face, "in the end, everything worked out. And I Awakened." His grin was infectious. The others couldn't help but smile.
Ayaka finally regained her composure, exhaling slowly as she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Alright then… What's important is that you're safe. But please, Ariz, be careful from now on." Her expression softened into her usual warm smile. "Now come on—let's celebrate properly with your favorite dishes."
With that gentle shift, the tension eased, and they all began eating. Warm food, familiar scents, and clinking plates filled the space.
Just as Ariz took another bite, Ava's voice curled into his mind like a playful whisper.
[Baby… why don't you scan Rachel too?]
'Fine,' Ariz thought casually.
Scan.
A faint shimmer crossed his vision as the panel appeared, unseen by anyone else.
[SCAN COMPLETE]
Name: Rachel
Age: 21
Race: Human
Physique: None
Bloodline: None
Power Level: Mortal (Unawakened)
Spirit Root: Profound Grade
Meridians: Profound Grade
Stats:
• Strength: 7 — Mortal
• Qi: 0
• Intelligence: 62 — D
• Stamina: 8 — Mortal
• Agility: 7 — Mortal
Feelings for Ariz:
• Affection: 42/100
• Lust: 35/100
• Hate: 0
• Loyalty: High
Ava hummed lightly.
[Hmm. Normal stats overall. Pretty disciplined mind, though—she's sharper than she looks. Not much physical power, but she's calm and reliable.]
Ariz nodded subtly.
'Yeah… she always seemed steady.'
Putting the scan aside, he looked at Rachel.
"You seem exhausted today," Ariz said gently. "Rough shift?"
Rachel paused mid-bite, then sighed, leaning back slightly.
"It's because of the Burner situation."
Ariz blinked. "Burner? Who's that?"
Rachel nodded, rubbing her temples. "Crime has been rising since the skyfall, but this man is something else. A C-rank Awakened. He targets women, does horrible things to them, and then burns the bodies to remove all traces. He's been on the loose for weeks. Each time we think we're close, he slips away. I'm not awakened, but I still coordinate with the awakened forces to track him. It's… draining."
Everyone's expression darkened..
"Horrible…" Ariz muttered.
Rachel nodded. "Anyway, let's not ruin the mood. Since you awakened, you'll be transferred to the Awakened Block. You'll finally enter the world of the awakened. I'm genuinely happy for you. Starting tomorrow, you'll have to report to the academy and get tested."
Ariz straightened. "Yeah. I'll go with Vivi tomorrow, get tested, and move to the new block."
The conversation continued lightly afterward, winding naturally into simpler topics until dinner ended. One by one, everyone finished eating and headed to their rooms.
***
Later, Ariz stepped into his room, quietly closing the door behind him.
The house had grown still. A faint breeze brushed against the curtains. Moonlight stretched across his floor in pale stripes.
He let out a long breath, sinking onto his bed. Everything felt surreal — awakening, near-death, Layla, the system, his sudden boost in appearance, the reactions downstairs… Too much for a single day.
Minutes passed. Maybe longer, until—
The quiet turn of the doorknob sliced through the stillness of his room.
The door eased open just a crack… paused… then slowly swung wider, as if someone was gathering the courage to step inside. A figure slipped through.
A woman.
Her cheeks held a soft, lingering blush, her breathing calm yet noticeably gentle. She stepped fully inside and slowly closed the door behind her.