In her waking moments, Mina's loud snoring and drooling came to a pause. "Nhmmm... ah." Her eyelids opened slowly, still drowsy from sleep, and she wiped her mouth of the drool that pooled.
Feeling warmth, she focused with her eyes, only to notice that she was in the clutches of Harold in their slumber. She could barely move as his head nuzzled against hers. Her face gradually reddened, her heart palpitating as her breath hitched. "W-What are is he doing right now?!" Her last memory was of her falling asleep in the park; now, she was in bed, cuddling with Harold. "D-Did he purposely put me here? Is he going to ravish me?!"
"No, Mina dear, did you not remember? You asked for this." Sorrow stated. "When did I ask for this? All I remember was me falling asleep in the park!" She whispered, trying not to wake Harold. "Did you hit your head? You kissed Harold while he slept, saying how you were going to make him yours and yours only." Mina's face turned a vibrant red, only able to stutter at the knowledge being told to her. "S-Sorrow are you lying to me right now?"
"Why would I lie to you, dear? Quite frankly, you were somewhat terrifying acting like that." Mina couldn't process any further information about what she had unknowingly done. Lying still in the comfortable arms of Harold, she froze. Livia, who woke up abruptly to the noise, crawled against Mina's face before lying down again. Yawning, she returned to sleep, smothering Mina's face with her fat blubber and squirrel tail as Mina was lost in thought.
*
*
*
Harold and Mina went side by side in the busy corridors, Harold yawning beside Mina. "Damn, there's a ton of people in this school. They're already going to their first hour." Mina touched around her blouse, feeling out its fitting. It was a perfect fit and comfortable, too. "Impressive how they got my measurements right." She said, looking down at her figure. She peeked her eyes at Harold, in which she could admire how handsome he looked in his frock coat. "Wow..." The words naturally spilled out of her mouth, entranced at how attractive he looked.
"The announcement this morning stated that we need to enter the main office to get our schedules, so let's go." Harold says. Mina nodded cheerfully, following alongside him. They both got to the main office, where long lines had formed. One for the Bronze class, one for the Silver class, and one for the Gold class. "I believe we're both in the Gold class, so let's go there." Stepping into the back of the line, they waited for a while as the line was long. At the front desks where the teachers handed out the papers, Harold observed the unusual process of the teachers using a tool to scan the students and then the paper before handing it to them. "The hell is that for?"
Many eyes watched them in line, specifically toward Mina in particular. The eyes were like predators, stalking their prey before striking. It was a malevolent aura that clasped around them. No matter how much Harold tried to resist the feeling, it lingered. Meanwhile, he watched as Mina cheerfully hummed to herself, completely oblivious to the daggers that glared at them. "U-Um, Mina...?"
Mina's eyes looked up at Harold as she let out a gleeful expression to him. "Yeah?"
"Don't you feel anything wrong?" he questioned. She shook her head, still in a positive mood. "Nuh uh!" Mina sure could feel some sort of malicious intent toward her, but just by standing next to Harold, she overran that feeling.
Whispers emerged in the line as they moved up.
"Isn't that the girl who cheated in the exams?"
"Poor brats like them shouldn't have gotten here in the first place."
"No way commoners were able to secure a spot here."
"She must've used a dirty trick to make her match a draw with Esmeralda. No way she had a draw."
Harold looked down at Mina to make sure she was alright, even with the overbearing talks, yet she was fine and oblivious to the words. Still humming without a care in the world. This reaction brought great concern to Harold. "I-Is she alright? She must be holding it all in... poor Mina! I'll take her to the cafe after the church visit to cheer her up." Yet, in Mina's mind, Harold's concerns were completely off. "Wow... this is my first time getting close to a boy! I've never felt this way before!"
With both of them finally getting to the front, the teacher in front eyed them both. She then took out an orb and aimed it at Harold, scanning him with a mysterious beam that came out of the orb. Shooting the same beam onto a sheet of paper, it transformed by having text written over it. The name at the top said "Harold Etton" in bold text. Underneath the name was other additional information that displayed what class and year he was in. "Gold class and year 2... pretty cool." Further down the paper, it also displayed his schedule. "Math, science, history, combat theory, lunch, inscription arts, and contemporary training." He wondered what the contemporary training was all about but didn't want to hold up the line. "I'll just ask later." He stepped out of the line, awaiting Mina.
The same process happened to Mina. She was scanned, and details about her were set on the paper. "Mina Sylvet" the name says. Right underneath it were similar details to Harold. Gold class and year 2. As she walked over to Harold, Harold noticed a glaring detail on their papers. Both of their schedules were exactly the same. "Wow, Harold, look! Our classes are the same!" Mina excitedly showed her paper to Harold as he was stunned at the bizarre coincidence. His smile was stiff as he murmured, "W-Wow, that is great..."
They both went on into their first class. As expected, it was boring as hell to Harold. He easily understood math on this level, and he didn't bother listening to the rest of the lecture. Mina, on the other hand, was listening intensely, frantically writing notes down as she had the intensity of a tiger in her studies. Catching a glimpse of her notes, he could see something blatantly wrong in them. Leaning over to her with a whisper, he points out the error. "Mina, this is wrong. Let me rewrite it for you." Him suddenly leaning over her made Mina's face grow a deep blush. "H-Huh?" As he brushed his hand over Mina's in taking her pencil, she nearly let out a tiny yelp. The close contact with him was driving her nuts as her mind steamed up. "Too close, too close!" she madly said in her mind as he grew closer. He rewrote her notes and handed her pencil back. "There." Planting her pencil back in her hand, he could see Mina's blank expression. "Mina?" he asked, only for her to respond with incoherent nonsense moments later. "What...?" he replied.
Sorrow sighed in disappointment as she entered Mina's hands. "You broke her, idiot."
"Huh? All I did was fix her notes."
As the class ended, both Mina and Harold left the room together. Many students eyed them with different views at hand. There were glares of contempt, looks of intrigue, but most of all, expressions of awe. Mina stuck out like a sore thumb. Even when there were nasty rumors that circulated about her, the angelic aura and appearance of Mina overpowered them. "She's sticking out like a sore thumb. Maybe I should buy a mask for her?"
He glanced at his schedule, seeing which class to get to next. "We need to find the science room now. Ugh, I already want to leave. This place is boring as hell."
"So why don't we leave?" Mina questioned.
"One, my father always wanted me to come into this academy when I was a kid. So when the opportunity arose, I couldn't waste it. Two, they have footage of me destroying multiple buildings, so I have no choice either way!" Letting out a sigh, he muttered sad words underneath his breath. "I'd rather investigate more into my mother's whereabouts than be here." His predicament weighed down on her. Not because she was sympathetic, but because she felt as if she was the main reason they were in this in the first place. Hearing Harold's desire to find his mother, she could understand that it was something important to him deep down. And because of how he had to set aside those desires for her, she felt immense guilt. Mina looked down in guilt, giving a sorrowful apology to him. "S-Sorry, Harold... All because you had to save and take care of me."
The words surprised him. Mina considering herself as a hinderance to him than an actual friend bothered him in a sense. He pats her on the head, giving her reassurance. "It doesn't matter that much. If I had not saved you, I'd probably feel more frustration in myself for the rest of my life than what I'm feeling right now." Giving a thumbs-up, he smiled. "Don't worry, I would never regret having you here. That's because you're an amazing friend, that's why." His words touched her deeply. She could feel her heart resonate with his kindness, but also a new profound feeling building up from within. Harold tried to take his hand off her head, but Mina used a mighty grip to keep it in place. Trying to pull it back more, Mina increased her strength. "M-Mina, what are you doing?" he asked, with a worried tone as he looked at Mina's face. Her face was intense with desire as she continued to push her head against Harold's hand. "What are you doing, Mina-"
"Look at these two lovebirds!" They both glanced over at the source of the voice. It came from an intimidating-looking man. Ruffled black hair, a scar on his right eye, and chains and piercings all over his body. His school uniform wasn't even made properly. Right next to him in his arms was someone familiar to Harold. Her deep crimson hair, eyes that were sharp as ever, and a beautiful face that nobody could ignore. It was his ex-lover, Val.
Harold pointed at Val. "Val? You're in this academy?!"
"H-Hey... Harold." she said with an uncomfortable tone.
Mina's grip tightened, making Harold wince. "Harold, who is that woman?"
Still wincing in pain, he answers her. "O-Oh, that's Val, my ex girlfriend."
Upon hearing this, Mina's mind suddenly shattered. "E-Ex...?" Harold nodded. "Yeah, I mean, we didn't do much as a couple anyway, so I think it was a good call to break up." That deep-seated feeling in Mina from earlier had grown, causing her chest to tense up. Before they spoke again, Mina had pressed her body against Harold's, giving a discrete bloodlust stare at Val.
"Yeah, and this bitch is my girlfriend now!" The man says with a chaotic grin. "Jet, s-stop it..." Val tries to tell him, but her voice gets more burrowed out by the menacing glare that he gives her. Jet stepped up to Harold, face-to-face. He stood a little taller than Harold as he leaned over him, but his face still unwavered. "You see, Val told me that she had a previous boyfriend in the past. I heard you didn't even get to kiss her!" Jet walked over to Val and aggressively grabbed her before licking the side of her face. "I did way more to her than you ever did!" His hand remained planted on her behind, and Val's discomfort was evident, but he continued. "What's even more, she told me that the only reason why she dated you is because she lost a bet!" he lets out an uncontrollable laugh. "What a loser you are!"
Harold kept the same stoic expression the entire time during his talks. But for Mina, she was visibly upset. A strong sense of malice came out of Mina and Jet could clearly feel this malice. He glanced over at Mina with lustful eyes. Mina's appearance was deemed to be an angel set on earth. She had a cuteness that no one could compare to. And because of this, Jet had taken an interest in her. "Y'know, you found quite a gem. I might just take her as well!" Meeting back with Harold's face, he's hit with a sudden slap. Jet, momentarily stunned by the shocking action, feels a rage building up within him.
Harold steps firmly against Mina before planting his hand on her head. "Listen here, buddy. I feel like you wouldn't be a great influence on Mina!" he exclaimed boldly in the middle of the hallway. "Mina is the most precious girl I've ever met! She is the cutest and kindest soul in the world! I would never let you taint someone as adorable as her!" Meanwhile, Mina's face was shaken as a massive blush washed over it. People down the hall heard his words, and many eyes turned to them. Her lips quivering as her heart rate skyrockets to Harold's statements.
Val held Jet back from hurling his fist at Harold. "Stop it, we're in public right now!" Jet yanks Val off with force, pushing her back. "I know, goddamn it!" He pressed his finger against Harold's chest. "I'll have you know, I work with a gang that has connections with Eiden! You best be watching over yourself from here on out!" He storms off with Val soon after. Harold shrugs, standing beside Mina. "Eiden? That sounds like a stupid name."
Going to the second floor of the academy, they near the science room. Harold raises his arms in a cheer. "Finally! This school is so huge! It took ages for us to find this damn science room." Mina, on the other hand, nervously fiddles with her fingers as she silently stands beside Harold, not able to make good eye contact with him.
Someone shouts loudly in the middle of the school hallways. "You're despicable!" A male voice stands out from the crowd. Noises of chaos intensified as sounds of struggle were apparent. Harold rushed into the crowd while Mina barely squeezed through. Pushing himself up front, he witnessed a brutal beating. It was a young aristocrat with gray hair, thrashing up another student. "Stay away from them, you hear me?!"
The scene was bloody, and more students stepped back from the massacre at hand, allowing Harold to weasel into the middle. "He's going to beat him to death!" Harold rushes in to grab the aristocrat's arm to stop his strikes. "Dude, you're going too far. Calm down." The aristocrat turned his head toward Harold with a frantic look in his eyes. "But this guy is horrible! I have to stop him!" he told him as he held his victim by the collar, who was gurgling on his own blood. Harold had encountered a lot of bad people in his life, and the aristocrat didn't seem to be like one of them. His words are genuine and have a tinge of sadness in them, too. He figured there was more to this story, so Harold wanted to speak to him more about this. "Anyway, let's get out of here first!" Yanking him out of the crowd, he meets with Mina, who barely budged into the mob. "Come, let's go!" he says, suddenly switching his hold to Mina instead. As Mina gets picked up by Harold, she lets out a tiny cry until she willfully accepts her kidnapping.
Exiting into the school's courtyard, they sit on a bench by a tree. Mina sits next to Harold, resting on his shoulder. On the second floor, through a window, they could hear a teacher yelling, furious at the scene. "They are not happy with what you did for sure..." Harold says.
The aristocrat nods. "Yeah..."
"Now tell me, why the heck were you beating up some poor guy, anyway?"
"He wasn't some poor guy! He was a horrible person!"
"How so?"
Yesterday, I witnessed him robbing my elderly neighbor!"
"So you nearly beat him to death cause of that reason?"
"Sorry... my emotions just got out of hand at that moment. He was threatening to kill her next time he sees her, so I snapped. I have a good friendship with Ms. Keyon, so I couldn't let him harm her any more!"
"Dude, even then, just report him to the police."
The aristocrat raises his voice. "No! They're scumbags! I will not work with them!" Harold couldn't lie to himself, they truly were scumbags. He never had good experiences with them and only watched them deteriorate over the years. "Well, you're right. They're pretty corrupt, and I don't see them changing anytime soon."
"They will change! That's because I will change them!" the aristocrat shouts.
"Huh?"
Proudly raising his voice again, he stands up and raises his fist into the sky. "My name is Ryan Lyhorn, the brother of Stephen Lyhorn, and I'll change the police force of Argon City! That's how we'll get rid of this corruption! I'll become to next police chief!"