Reborn in a Gray Academy, I Became the Enemy of the World with a Smiling Girl - The Mask of Smiles and the Invitation Underground

The lunch bell echoed heavily through Seiren Hall. Souma Kazami sat in the corner of the classroom, letting out a small sigh so no one would notice. Three days since his transfer. Nothing had changed. If anything, things had gotten worse. (*The air's getting heavier by the day.*) The first day, it had been curiosity. The second, mockery. And today—the third day—the classroom's atmosphere had shifted into outright hostility. No one looked Souma in the eye. But whenever he passed by, a deliberate silence fell. And after he'd gone, loud, pointed laughter followed. "Hey, did you see? That transfer student." "I heard he's Miko-zero. How did he even get into this academy?" "Who knows? Probably paid his way in." The voices were pitched just loud enough to reach Souma clearly. Souma ignored them and opened his lunchbox. Cold white rice and leftover tamagoyaki from yesterday. The C-dorm meals were plain and small in portion—a dorm for students ranked C or below. As a Miko-zero, Souma technically shouldn't even have qualified for admission. The rumor was that he was only here because the upper echelons of the Waldstein Agency had some scheme in mind. (*Whatever. As long as I can eat, that's enough.*) He brought the tamagoyaki to his mouth. A little tough. The soy sauce flavor was too strong. Just then, the hallway outside suddenly grew noisy. "It's the student council president!" "Why would Toya-sama come to this floor...?" Every student in the classroom turned toward the hallway at once. Souma, drawn along, looked out the window too. A single male student was walking down the center of the corridor. Long silver hair. A white uniform. The air around him fell silent wherever he passed. (*So that's Toya Mahiro...*) The student council president of Seiren Academy. Miko rank SS. A man called a genius unprecedented in the academy's history. Souma had never spoken to him directly, but he'd heard the name countless times since his first day—teachers singing his praises, students whispering his name with awe, and a vague unease about something hidden beneath that smile. Mahiro walked slowly, with perfect posture, as if crossing a stage. Then, in front of Souma's classroom, he stopped. Souma's heart lurched. (*Why here...?*) Mahiro slowly scanned the classroom. His golden eyes moved like a predator searching for prey. And then they met Souma's. Mahiro smiled. The smile was perfectly composed. His lips drew a beautiful arc, his eyes narrowed. But Souma could tell—beneath that smile, a cold blade lay hidden. Standing at the classroom entrance, Mahiro raised his voice—loud enough for Souma to hear, no, loud enough for every student in the room to hear. "Welcome to Seiren Academy." The voice was soft, yet carried perfectly. Every student in the room held their breath. Mahiro continued, his smile never wavering. "You're the transfer student, Souma Kazami-kun. I've heard the rumors. Miko-zero, and yet you came to this academy?" Snickers leaked from the surrounding students. Souma clenched his back teeth. (*I know exactly what you're trying to say.*) Mahiro stepped into the classroom. "I love this academy, you see. It's a beautiful place, overflowing with Miko talent. The finest minds of the future gather here." Mahiro stopped in front of Souma's desk, looking down at him. "So I have a request. Would you mind not dirtying my ideal academy?" The words rang through the classroom like a death sentence. A moment of silence. The next instant, the atmosphere in the room shifted completely. "Oh, so the president thinks so too." "Of course. A Miko-zero being in this academy is wrong to begin with." "Trash should stay in the corner where it belongs." Students who had been keeping their distance moments ago now pointed at Souma all at once, jeering. With a single sentence from Mahiro, Souma had been officially branded as "foreign matter to be eliminated" across the entire academy. Souma clenched his fists. (*Say something back. Say anything.*) His mind knew it. But his mouth wouldn't move. (*Nothing I say to this guy will matter. And if I talk back, it'll only get worse.*) Years of living as a Miko-zero had taught Souma that. Staying silent was safest. All Souma could do was stare back into Mahiro's golden eyes. Mahiro looked down at him, savoring his reaction. "Oh? Do you have something to say? Don't hold back." Mahiro's voice remained gentle. That made it all the more terrifying. Souma bit his lip. He tasted blood. That was when it happened. "Hold it right there!" A clear voice shot in from the classroom entrance. A girl with long chestnut hair tied high into a single ponytail. Nishizono Chigusa stood there, breathing hard. She marched straight between Souma and Mahiro. "What did you just say to Souma?" Chigusa looked up at Mahiro directly. Her blue eyes burned with anger. Mahiro looked at her and smiled again. "Oh, Nishizono Chigusa-kun. I was merely asking him to preserve the academy's order." "Like hell you were! The way you said it, it was like Souma was something filthy!" Chigusa's dialect rang through the classroom. The surrounding students began to stir. "What is Chigusa-san doing...?" "Is she insane, siding with a Hagure?" "The academy idol, with a Miko-zero..." The whispers grew louder. Mahiro's smile never broke. "Chigusa-kun, you're a talented Miko-bearer. Rank A, water-manipulation type. Your future is promising. For someone like you to side with trash—I think that's very foolish." Mahiro's voice was as soft as ever. But his words cut into Chigusa like a sharp blade. Chigusa's shoulders trembled slightly. "I'd hate to see you waste your Miko talent. This is advice from your student council president." With that, Mahiro turned on his heel. His long silver hair swayed softly. "Well then, I'll be going. Souma Kazami-kun, do enjoy your academy life." Without looking back, Mahiro left the classroom. What remained was a heavy silence, Souma and Chigusa, and the hostile stares of their classmates. Chigusa glared at the door Mahiro had exited through for a long moment. Then she slowly turned toward Souma. "Souma, are you okay?" Chigusa's voice was gentle, as if her earlier anger had been a lie. Souma looked at her face. Her blue eyes gazed at him with worry. (*Why is this girl so...*) Souma couldn't find the words. "...It's nothing. I'm used to it." Souma said it curtly and closed his lunchbox. "But that was way too cruel. And he's supposed to be the student council president." Chigusa still seemed unable to contain her anger. "Whatever. It's not something you need to worry about." Souma stood up. "...Where are you going?" "The rooftop. I want to be alone." Without waiting for Chigusa's reply, Souma left the classroom. He felt her worried gaze on his back. (*Stop it. Don't look at me like that.*) Souma quickened his pace. (*If you get involved with me, you'll be in danger too.*) Mahiro's words repeated in his head. *"I'd hate to see you waste your Miko talent."* That was a warning to Chigusa. If she kept associating with Souma, she would be eliminated too. (*I can't drag her into this.*) Souma ran up the stairs to the rooftop. The sky was overcast and heavy. Thick clouds, looking ready to burst into rain at any moment. Souma sat down, leaning his back against the fence. (*Dammit...*) He slammed his clenched fist against the ground. Pain shot through his hand. But more than that, there was a tightening sensation deep in his chest. (*I can't do anything. No Miko. No power. I can't even talk back when that bastard says whatever he wants.*) Self-loathing washed over him like a wave. (*Chigusa defended me so desperately.*) Her angry face, her worried face, her gentle voice. All of it squeezed Souma's chest. (*She's a good person. That's exactly why she shouldn't be involved with me.*) Souma reached that conclusion. Afternoon classes passed in a daze. The teacher's voice sounded like distant noise. His classmates' stares still stung like needles. But more than anything, what occupied Souma's mind was Chigusa. (*What should I say after school?*) (*That she should stay away from me.*) (*That's fine. It's for her own good.*) Souma made up his mind, doodling meaningless scribbles in the corner of his notebook. After school. The moment the bell rang, Souma bolted out of the classroom. He wanted to get away from this place as fast as possible. But the instant he stepped into the hallway, a voice called from behind. "Souma! Wait!" He turned to see Chigusa running toward him, footsteps pattering. She stopped in front of him and smiled brightly. "Let's walk home together." Souma averted his eyes from her smile. "...Sorry. I'm going home alone today." "Huh? Why?" Chigusa tilted her head. "No reason. Just because." Souma said it curtly and started to walk away. "Wait. Are you... mad at me for talking back to the student council president during lunch?" Chigusa's voice sank a little. "...No." "Then why? Did I do something wrong to you?" Chigusa's voice was serious. Souma stopped walking. (*I have to say it. I have to say it clearly here.*) (*This has nothing to do with you. Stay away from me.*) That's all he needed to say. Then Chigusa would leave. But the words that came out were different. "...I don't want you getting targeted by that student council president because of me." Souma had spoken more honestly than even he expected. Chigusa's eyes went wide. "Huh... You're worried about me?" "No. I just don't want to get dragged into something troublesome." Souma hastily covered it up. But Chigusa let out a soft laugh. "Oh, is that all? Then it's fine." Chigusa grabbed Souma's hand and squeezed it tightly. "I'm your friend. When a friend's in trouble, I can't just stand there and watch." Chigusa's hand was warm. "...Were you even listening to what I said?" Souma said it with exasperation. "I was. But I want to be friends with you. That's all." Chigusa looked straight into Souma's eyes. Her blue eyes were unwavering. Souma faltered at that strength. (*This girl really is...*) Souma sighed. "...Do whatever you want." That was the best reply Souma could manage. Chigusa smiled happily. "Okay! Then let's go!" Chigusa pulled Souma's hand and started running. "H-hey, where are we going?!" "Just come on!" Chigusa ran down the hallway without letting go of Souma's hand. Their destination was the far edge of the school building. They descended a dim, deserted staircase. "...Hey, I've never been to a place like this before." Souma looked around. The walls were cracked, and the air was cold and damp. "These stairs lead underground, below the academy. It's normally off-limits." Chigusa's voice grew quiet. "Why would you bring me to a place like this..." When Souma asked, Chigusa stopped walking. At the very bottom of the stairs. There stood a heavy iron door. The surface was rusted, and a sign reading "NO ENTRY" hung crookedly at its center. "...This is it." Chigusa stood still before the iron door. Her bright smile from earlier was gone. Her profile, in the dim light, looked terribly sad. "...Chigusa?" Souma called out hesitantly. Chigusa was silent for a while. Then she slowly opened her mouth. "When I was in elementary school, I had a best friend named Tomoka." Chigusa's voice trembled. "Tomoka was cheerful and kind. She always played with me. She was my best friend." Souma listened in silence. "But Tomoka got a D rating on her Miko assessment." A D rating. One of the lowest ranks in the Miko hierarchy. "The next day, Tomoka suddenly disappeared from school. Without any warning, as if she'd never been there from the start." Chigusa's fists clenched tightly. "I searched desperately. I asked the teachers. I asked the adults. But no one would tell me anything. They jus

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Episode 2

Name: Reborn in a Gray Academy, I Became the Enemy of the World with a Smiling Girl
Author: Novelia

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