"2B, what are you doing here?"
Reisou stood up from his seat, his voice a mix of disbelief and confusion as he stared at the girl calmly standing at the front of the class.
Everyone, especially the boys, stared at Reisou in surprise, as his reaction clearly showed that he was familiar with the pretty transfer student.
"Ah, Master, it seems that from now on, we're going to be classmates," 2B said, offering Reisou a warm smile.
Her words made the entire class go silent, with the atmosphere so tense that the sound of a pin dropping could have been heard.
'Shit...' Reisou thought, already knowing what would happen next.
And just as he had expected, all eyes were on him.
Even Sae was watching him with a curious expression.
"M-MASTER!?" His classmates shouted in unison, their confusion clear as they stared at Reisou.
In an instant, the classroom erupted into chaos—students whispering, gasping, and trading wild theories about the relationship between Reisou and the mysterious, beautiful transfer student.
"D-Did I hear that right? That super pretty girl just called Aragaki master?" a guy asked his friend, leaning in with wide eyes, clearly seeking confirmation.
"No way... That goddess-level girl already belongs to someone?!" another boy cried dramatically, grabbing his head in despair. "Why is life so unfair?!"
"With this treasure, I summon—"
"Silence!" Sae ordered, making the students immediately close their mouths.
Compared to other classes, 2E and 3C were the most manageable for their respective homeroom teachers, as no one dared to challenge the authority of two powerful retired S-rank Hunters.
Especially 3C, which was commanded by the Dark Witch.
"Aragaki, sit back down. As for you, introduce yourself quickly," Sae said, facing 2B, who simply nodded in response.
With a smooth motion, 2B approached the digital blackboard and wrote her name.
"Pleased to meet you all, humans. My name is Hamashira Nibe. I hope we get along," she said, flashing a gentle smile. The agitated boys, and even some of the girls, felt their hearts melt at the sight of her warmth, completely ignoring the "humans" part.
Sae handed her a phone and pointed to an empty seat conveniently located behind Reisou, indicating that it was hers.
Reisou recalled that the previous occupant had been reassigned without warning. This sudden convenience made him glance at 2B, silently conveying with his eyes that they would need to have a serious conversation later.
The white-haired android met his gaze, gave a small nod, and gracefully made her way to her seat.
A few hours later, the school bell rang, signaling lunch. Reisou acted quickly, and before anyone had a chance to crowd around 2B, he grabbed her hand and pulled her away.
They both headed near a isolated stairwell linking the second floor. There, Reisou started questioning 2B.
"How the hell did you do this?" Reisou asked, his voice filled with curiosity rather than anger.
In fact, he never got angry at her for doing it. Reisou simply wanted to know how she pulled it off.
"Hm... I just had a talk with one of the people responsible for this place and made a few arrangements," she answered nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.
Upon hearing her response, Reisou began to make a few guesses, but none of the scenarios that came to mind seemed even remotely possible.
Moreover, he felt slightly dumb for overlooking the clues she had left behind.
"What do you mean by a few arrangements?" Reisou asked, raising an eyebrow.
2B paused for a moment before responding.
"Well... I did something humans call blackmail," she replied a moment later, her tone as calm as ever.
Reisou's eyes went wide the moment he heard her reply. He wanted to believe she was joking, but the composed look on 2B's face told him otherwise.
She was completely serious.
For some reason, Reisou found himself accepting that absurd explanation very easily and asked her how she did it.
After a thirty-minute explanation filled with online spying, privacy violations, and undeniable proof, Reisou pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to wrap his head around it all.
Everything she said was just about one prime investor. 2B had already gathered enough evidence to topple every major figure behind Sozukusen's administration.
'So this is the potential of an A-grade summon, huh?' Reisou thought, still finding it hard to believe.
"Sigh... I had a feeling this could happen... well, what is done is done. Let's grab something to eat, afterward I'll show you around the school," he said, running a hand through his hair as he walked away.
2B nodded quietly and followed his lead, walking beside him with their shoulders nearly touching.
Most male students who saw the stunning girl with short white hair walking closely beside a not-so-handsome guy muttered curses under their breath, silently directing waves of envy and spite toward the seemingly lucky boy.
- - -
Meanwhile, in the cramped space near the staircase, a girl with long pink hair, blue eyes, and wearing a pink tracksuit over her school uniform clutched her guitar, trembling slightly.
She was just as always in her sacred spot, trying to enjoy a melon bread, but she accidentally overheard something very dangerous.
Two unfamiliar students, a guy and a stunning girl, were discussing blackmail and other topics that would leave anyone baffled.
These things definitely shouldn't have been something she should have heard, which made the extremely introverted girl very scared.
'I-If they k-know t-that I know, I'm done for!' the girl thought, desperately wanting to escape as quickly as possible.
However, the fear of leaving her spot and ending up meeting those two people made her decide to blend into the shadow of the staircase.
Gotou Hitori, a Hunter possessing the darkness element, cast a shadow spell to stay hidden. She remained seated there for a long time, terrified for her life.
- - -
Unaware that someone had overheard their conversation, Reisou and 2B were already eating sandwiches together on the rooftop.
After finishing their meal, he gave her a more detailed explanation of the academy rules.
Although 2B had already reviewed every single academy rule before enrolling, she continued to listen.
Reisou wasn't discussing the written rules; he was explaining the true, unspoken ones followed by the influential forces within the academy.
Sozukusen is a place where strength and fame are rewarded, whether it's money, privileges, or influence. There, only the best can truly thrive, and all the students must learn the harsh truth.
Trampling the weak wasn't uncommon and, at times, even necessary.
2B, upon learning about the darker side of the academy, didn't change her expression. She wasn't that familiar with human behavior, so it didn't have much of an impact on her.
However, if it were to affect her master, she would deal with it using all her strength.
Just as Reisou finished explaining how things worked at the academy, the second bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break. The two of them stood up and made their way back to class.
Their classmates, seeing them enter side by side, immediately began whispering among themselves.
Reisou paid no attention to the whispers and sat back at his desk. 2B, also unfazed by the stares, gracefully returned to her seat behind him.
The rest of the classes flew by. Reisou, alongside 2B, walked toward his room, but midway there, she turned to him and asked him to follow her lead.
He complied, a bit confused, and followed her into the academy residential zone, which was split into three areas: the common zone, the entertainment zone, and the high zone.
The first zone housed the more basic apartment buildings, where students with extra credits resided. The second zone was dedicated to relaxation, offering amenities such as spas, game centers, private libraries, and various other leisure spots.
The last zone was the most exclusive one, home to the children of politicians, S-rank Hunters, and billionaires. This area featured grand manors and luxury houses, with only a select few students eligible to apply to live there.
As Reisou followed 2B, he noticed they passed through the first two zones and headed straight for the high zone, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
At the entrance of the high zone, a large, muscular guard dressed in a black suit with a scary expression stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Where's the pass?" he asked, his voice deep and gruff as he eyed them with suspicion.
Reisou was puzzled about why 2B had brought him to this place.
Before he could ask, she pulled a phone from a unique place between her two peaks and showed something to the guard.
In an instant, the guard's demeanor completely changed. He straightened up, his face now respectful, and he silently stepped aside to allow them through.
Such a shocking scene left Reisou speechless, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
2B didn't react, treating the situation with indifference as she signaled for him to continue following her.
He tried to ask what had just happened, but 2B stayed silent, deliberately leaving the situation shrouded in mystery.
As the duo walked for a few minutes, receiving curious glares from other students passing by, they arrived at a stunning, luxurious house. The property featured a large garden at the entrance, and a sparkling pool in the backyard added to its elegance.
2B halted her steps in front of the house door and turned to face Reisou.
"We've arrived, Master, at our new home," she said, smiling warmly.
"..."