Lucy was truly beautiful.
Sitting next to her, I couldn't stop thinking about the way her golden hair shimmered in the light, gently swaying with every small movement. Her eyes,sharp and red like rubies—were both mysterious and mesmerizing. There was something graceful yet unapproachable about her, something that made it impossible to look away.
Caught up in my thoughts, I suddenly remembered,Class A wasn't just an ordinary class.
In my line of sight sat Dan, the main character of this story, seated confidently at the front with a self-assured smile. Not far away sat Kiana, her silver hair glowing like moonlight as she silently gazed out the window. Scattered around were several other important supporting characters—some in this class, others yet to appear.
A subtle wave of tension swept through me.
This wasn't just a class. This was the very heart of the story.
As I continued to lose myself in those thoughts—
"Where did your mind drift off to, Yuto?"
Sachi leaned back slightly, gently tugging my sleeve with a playful tone.
"The professor just said we're heading to the training grounds for a combat assessment. Finished daydreaming yet?"
"Ah… right. Let's go."
I stood up, then turned to Lucy sitting beside me.
"Come with us?"
She glanced at me, then gave a small shrug.
"Up to you."
Her reply was still cold, but her voice was softer than before,not as sharp as it had been this morning. It wasn't a clear yes, but it wasn't a no either.
And with me, that alone was progress.
---
After everyone had at the training grounds, Class A began its first real combat assessment.
The training field was vast, surrounded by a faintly glowing barrier a magical field designed to minimize damage from spell collisions. Stone bleachers lined the edges, where students not yet fighting could watch and learn. The air was tense, everyone knew this was a chance to prove themselves in front of both the teacher and their classmates.
Professor Baldric stepped to the center, holding a rather peculiar staff topped with a softly glowing, slowly spinning crystal.
"This will randomly assign your matchups," he said, raising the staff.
"There are 40 students in Class A. We'll divide you into 20 random pairs."
"Support and safety enchantments are fully in place, so you may fight without holding back."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crystal began to glow brightly. Names started appearing mid-air, spinning rapidly before settling into pairs.
I looked up at the floating names.
Yuto – Dan
…Seriously?
The same scenario again. In the original novel, Yuto—a relatively unimportant background character had been completely overpowered by Dan in the first assessment. A humiliating defeat that made him a laughingstock for the entire semester.
Would it be the same this time?
I clenched my fists, eyes locked on Dan as he strode into the center of the field. He looked at me with a challenging grin. Dan specialized in A-rank body enhancement magic, amplifying his strength, speed, and durability to frightening levels. In the original story, Yuto had taken a punch to the face right at the start and collapsed instantly.
One blow. End of story.
But something always felt off to me.
Why was someone like Yuto—whose only ability was ordinary B-rank Wind magic placed in the elite Class A?
The answer… must lie within this body.
I could feel it clearly.
The mana inside me was suspiciously dense. It didn't show on the surface, but the current flowing beneath was strong overwhelming, even. Compared to the other students, I might even surpass Kiana—considered the top genius of our year.
Maybe my techniques weren't flashy, but the sheer amount of mana I held must have been what earned me a spot here.
If I used it properly, I could defeat or at least hold my own against—Dan.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the ring, feeling the curious gazes of my classmates.
I saw Sachi waving at me from the bleachers, silently mouthing "You got this!"
And right beside her… was Lucy.
She just looked down at me, quietly. No words. No expression.
But her gaze never left me.
I smiled faintly.
I wasn't going to let history repeat itself.
---
Once Dan and I had taken our positions, Professor Baldric raised his staff and declared:
"Begin!"
I moved instantly.
I knew exactly what Dan would do just like in the original novel. He'd pour all his power into his legs, charge forward, and aim a straight punch at my face, trying to end the fight in a single blow.
That was Dan's way: simple, direct, and ruthless.
The moment the signal rang out, I activated Wind Magic around my body.
A thin layer of air wrapped around me, reducing my weight, increasing my agility, I shifted left.
Whoosh!
Dan accelerated immediately.
A sudden dash, beast-like and brutal—just like a predator lunging at its prey.
But I was faster.
I twisted my body, narrowly dodging the punch as it sliced through the air beside my face.
The wind brushed against my cheek. A shiver ran down my spine but that meant I had avoided it.
"What?!"
Dan shouted in surprise, stumbling slightly from the force of his own momentum.
The bleachers erupted with murmurs and shocked gasps.
I stood firm, watching him carefully.
In the original story, Yuto had been hit square in the face and knocked out instantly.
But this time…
I smiled.
This time, I'm different.