February 11, 2013, Monday, 8:30 am, Nakameguro High School, Principals Office
In the poorly managed Nakameguro High School, hallways were littered with trash.
The faint scent of chalk and old wood lingered in the air as Elric went down the quiet corridors of Nakameguro High School. His footsteps echoed against the linoleum floor, drawing curious glances from passing students who quickly averted their eyes when he met their gaze.
Whispers followed him, fragments of awe and confusion mingling with the typical gossip of high school life.
The bell had just rung, signaling the end of the last period, and the halls were now abuzz with students hurrying to their after-school activities or homeward-bound plans. Yet, for Elric, the day was far from over.
The confrontation earlier in Classroom 3-4 still played on his mind. The curse spirit's aura had been subtle but suffocating, lurking just beneath the surface of reality, invisible to most. The tension it exuded clung to the students like a thick and oppressive fog until Elric obliterated it and the classroom blackboard.
He had meant to keep his intervention discreet, but the resounding crash had drawn more attention than he'd intended. It seemed the principal had taken note, summoning him immediately after the commotion.
Now, standing before the office door marked "Principal Takamori," Elric took a measured breath before knocking twice. A muffled voice invited him inside, and he entered.
The principal's office was modest, with bookshelves lined with academic tomes and memorabilia from school events. Principal Takamori, a stout man with thinning hair and a sharp gaze, sat behind his cluttered desk.
His expression of irritation and curiosity turned stern as Elric stepped in and closed the door behind him.
"Elric Ho," the principal began, gesturing to the chair across from him, "please, sit."
Elric complied, his calm demeanor betraying nothing of the events earlier. Takamori leaned back, his fingers steepled as he studied Elric with an intensity that spoke volumes.
"Would you care to explain," the principal started, his tone clipped, "why there's a shattered blackboard in Classroom 3-4 and why the students claim you did it?"
Elric leaned back slightly, his hands resting on the chair's armrests. "I swatted a fly," he said evenly. "Didn't realize my strength would... cause that much damage."
The principal's brow furrowed, clearly unconvinced. "Swatted a fly?" he echoed, disbelief in his voice. "With enough force to destroy a blackboard? You do realize how absurd that sounds, don't you?"
"I do," Elric admitted, his tone calm, "but that's what happened."
For a long moment, Takamori scrutinized him, his sharp gaze trying to pry deeper into the substitute teacher's carefully guarded composure. Then, with a resigned sigh, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"You were recommended for this position by Matsunaga-san for your military career and young Horigawa for your teaching ethics," he said, his voice softening slightly. "And I must say, their trust in you is the only reason I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. Do you know how much trouble Miruko has caused in the past year?"
Elric nodded faintly. "I've heard."
"Then you must also know how much she's changed since you arrived," Takamori continued, his tone shifting to gratitude. "For that, you have my thanks. But smashing school property, even for... unconventional reasons, cannot go unnoticed."
The principal's irritation seemed to ebb as he spoke. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll call a repair crew to fix the blackboard," he said at last, his tone weary but decisive. "But I hope this doesn't become a regular occurrence."
Elric raised a hand slightly. "I'd like the blackboard to stay as it is."
That gave the principal pause, and he tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "And why, exactly, would you want that?"
"I have plans for the blackboard anyways," Elric explained, his tone casual yet firm. "And I need to talk to you about something."
Principal Takamori raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Go ahead."
Classroom 3-4, 8:45 am
The atmosphere in Classroom 3-4 was anything but studious. The delinquent trio, Riku Takahara, Shoji Nakamura, and Takeshi Ogawa, huddled near the back. Their chairs tilted at precarious angles as they snickered among themselves.
"I bet you a thousand yen he's gone by tomorrow," Riku muttered, his arms crossed confidently. "No way the old man is letting that weirdo stay after wrecking the blackboard."
Shoji smirked and nudged Takeshi. "I'm in. Maybe we'll get someone worse this time, or better, no one at all."
"I'll bet five thousand he doesn't even last the week," Takeshi added with a wide grin. "It's about time someone stood up to Matsunaga and her holier-than-thou act."
Their laughter echoed, but it was cut short when Miruko Horigawa slammed her hands on her desk and stood up. Her fiery glare pinned the trio in place.
"You guys have no idea what you're talking about," Miruko snapped, her voice sharp. "I'll bet everything that he's not getting fired. In fact, he's probably going to make you three eat your words."
Ichiro and Hiroki Muto, seated nearby, exchanged quick glances before rising. "Yeah," Ichiro agreed, crossing his arms as he joined Miruko. "He's way cooler than any other teacher we've had. You guys just don't get it."
Hiroki added, "Maybe you should worry about keeping up with class instead of running your mouths all the time."
Riku sneered and stood to his full height, looming over Miruko. "Big words, Horigawa. You think your little gang here scares us?"
The rising tension drew the attention of the gyaru trio, Miyu Sasaki, Yuna Kurokawa, and Rika Tanabe. The three girls strolled over, their heels clicking against the floor as they exchanged knowing smirks.
"What's going on here?" Miyu asked, her tone overly sweet and mocking. "You guys arguing about your new favorite teacher?"
Rika snickered and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Seriously, Miruko? You're siding with that loser? I thought you had more sense."
"He's not a loser!" Miruko shot back, her fists clenched. "At least he doesn't waste his life gossiping like you three."
Yuna gasped dramatically and pretended to be offended. "Oh no, girls, did she just call us losers? That's rich coming from someone who was a delinquent and, now, hanging out with these two nerds."
Yuna gestured dismissively at Ichiro and Hiroki, who bristled at the insult. Miruko's anger nearly used her electric abilities as she clenched her right fist. The twins saw this and tried to calm her down.
The argument swelled into a cacophony of raised voices and sharp retorts, threatening to escalate further. Meanwhile, Aoi Matsunaga sat quietly at her desk by the window, her gaze fixed on the gray clouds rolling across the sky. She absently twirled a strand of her double-braided hair as if tuning out the chaos behind her. But that was not the case as the image of the substitute teacher's smiling face when he saved her from the encroaching spirit.
Just as the bickering peaked, the classroom door slid open with a sharp, deliberate sound. The room fell silent instantly, all eyes turning to the figure standing in the doorway.
Elric stepped inside, his usual disheveled appearance unchanged. His poor-looking glasses, rumpled shirt, shaggy hair, and unassuming demeanor starkly contrasted the tension that had filled the room moments ago. Despite the students' expectations, he looked entirely unaffected, as if Principal Takamori had not reprimanded him.
The delinquents exchanged stunned glances, and even the gyaru girls were momentarily speechless. Miruko smirked triumphantly and crossed her arms as she returned to her seat.
Elric scanned the room with a neutral expression, his sharp eyes covered by his glasses betraying nothing.
"Alright," Elric said, his voice cutting through the silence, "Get changed into your workout uniforms. We are taking a trip to the schoolyard."
The sudden announcement left the students baffled, their confusion palpable as they exchanged puzzled glances. Miruko's group, however, wasted no time and left the classroom to retrieve their workout uniforms. Aoi hesitated, her gaze flickering between the door and her desk, but after a brief pause, she stood and followed the others.
It was a different story for the problem kids.
Riku leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed defiantly. "Workout uniforms? What's the point? It's not gym class."
Shoji chimed in, slouching lazily in his seat. "Yeah, and besides, I forgot mine at home. Total accident."
"Same here," Takeshi added with a smirk. "Guess we'll have to sit this one out."
Elric's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable as he took a few steps closer to their corner. His calm demeanor was unwavering, almost unnerving. "You don't need to worry about that," he said. "I already took care of it."
The trio blinked in confusion. Riku frowned. "What do you mean, 'took care of it'?"
Elric allowed himself the faintest of smirks. "I requested extra workout uniforms from Principal Takamori, just in case. They're waiting in the supply room. No excuses now."
The delinquents stared at him, stunned into silence. Riku's defiance faltered, Shoji's smirk faded, and Takeshi looked genuinely rattled. Their shared confidence melted away as they realized there was no way out.
"Fine," Riku muttered, pushing himself up from his chair. "Guess we don't have a choice."
Shoji and Takeshi followed reluctantly, their earlier bravado replaced with reluctant compliance. Elric watched them leave, his sharp gaze lingering until they were out of sight.
Turning back to the rest of the class, he added, "Be quick about it. I'm not waiting all day."
Nakameguro High School Yard, Running Course, 9:00 am...
The morning sun cast long shadows over the schoolyard as Classroom 3-4 students gathered at the running course. Miruko Horigawa and the Muto twins, Ichiro and Hiroki, were already warming up, stretching their legs and rolling their shoulders in preparation. Aoi Matsunaga arrived a little later, her footsteps hesitant, while the problem students shuffled in with visible reluctance. Though they wore their workout uniforms, their mismatched hairstyles revealed their lack of effort.
Elric stood at the center of the course, his arms crossed casually. When one of the gyaru girls mockingly called him "Ho-sensei," he raised an eyebrow and addressed the group.
"From now on, call me Elric-sensei," he announced, his voice carrying an edge of authority.
The gyaru trio exchanged glances but said nothing further, silenced by his calm confidence.
Without missing a beat, Elric-sensei continued, "Today, you'll all be running twenty laps around this course, which is equal to five miles."
A collective groan erupted from the problem students, their complaints coming immediately.
"Twenty laps? That's insane! We're not built for this!" Riku protested.
"We can't even do one lap, you know!" Miyu added, clutching her side theatrically. "We'll die out here!"
Elric-sensei raised a hand to quiet them. "Relax. You don't have to sprint or run like crazy. Just jog or walk if that's all you can manage. Think of it as a chance to waste school time."
The problem was that kids exchanged wary glances but eventually shrugged. With the excuse of being able to walk, their resistance waned, and they reluctantly joined the activity.
As Aoi stepped toward the track, Elric-sensei stopped her. His sharp eyes softened as he noticed the weariness in her movements.
Elric kindly ordered, "Matsunaga, sit this one out. You're clearly exhausted and stressed. Take a rest and enjoy the show."
Aoi hesitated, but the relief in her expression was unmistakable.
"Understood, Sensei," she said quietly, retreating to the sidelines.
Her gaze lingered on him, a mix of gratitude and admiration before she sat down.
However, a sudden realization thought in Aoi's mind, "What does he mean by 'enjoy the show?'"
Moments later, the sharp sound of a bell echoed across the yard. "Begin!" Elric-sensei called out.
The students set off. While the delinquents and gyaru girls took their time walking and chatting, Miruko and the Muto twins started at a steady jog. Their pace gradually increased as they found their rhythm, each lap a challenge they embraced with focus and determination.
From the sidelines of the track, the problem kids couldn't resist making snide remarks.
"Look at them," Riku sneered, gesturing toward Miruko and the twins. "Running like their lives depend on it. What, they try out for the Olympics or something?"
Shoji chuckled, mimicking an exaggerated running motion. "Hey, Miruko! Are you planning to save the world with those laps? Take it easy before you trip over yourself."
Yuna, one of the gyaru girls, smirked as she twirled a strand of her hair. "So extra. What's the point of trying so hard? They won't win any medals for this."
Rika joined in, flipping her hair dismissively. "Honestly, they look ridiculous. Sweating like that? Ew. No one's going to think it's cool."
The delinquents and gyaru girls laughed, mocking tones loud enough to carry across the field.
Miruko, unbothered, shot them a sharp glance but kept her focus on the track. "Let them talk," she muttered to Ichiro and Hiroki, who was jogging steadily beside her.
Ichiro grinned. "They won't be laughing when they're eating our dust."
Hiroki chuckled. "Let them waste their breath. We've got laps to finish."
The three pressed on, ignoring the jeers behind them as their pace quickened with each lap.
By the eighth lap, Miruko's group was drenched in sweat but unfazed. Their stamina and dedication caught the attention of the problem kids, who watched in disbelief.
"Wait... how are they still going?" Shoji muttered, his earlier smirk now replaced with shock.
"Are they even human?" Riku added, staring as Miruko and the Muto twins powered through the lap, their strides unwavering.
The gyaru girls, who had giggled moments earlier, exchanged stunned glances. Yuna whispered, "Okay, this is actually insane."
The mockery fell silent for the first time that morning as the problem kids could not look away from the sheer determination on display.
"Sensei!" Ichiro called out, his breath even despite the effort.
"Can we take off these jackets? They're slowing us down!" Miruko yelled out loud.
Elric-sensei nodded. "Go ahead," he replied, already heading toward the hose he had prepared.
As Miruko, Ichiro, and Hiroki removed their sweat-soaked jackets, the reaction from the sidelines was instantaneous. Aoi, the delinquents, and the gyaru girls stared in stunned silence.
The three were ripped, their toned physiques and defined muscles standing out under the morning sun. Their abs, six and nearly eight, glistened with sweat, and their powerful builds betrayed the weeks of intense training they had undergone under Elric's tutelage. It was clear that these three were no ordinary high schoolers; they were on the level of professional athletes.
The delinquents were the first to break the silence. "What the hell?!" Riku exclaimed, his jaw-dropping. "When did they turn into bodybuilders?"
Ichiro and Hiroki continued running, their strides strong and controlled, while Miruko grinned through her exhaustion. They pushed ahead, their confidence only growing.
As they completed their eighth lap, Elric-sensei gave them a brief spray from the hose, cooling them down. "Good work," he said, smiling as they resumed their run.
Riku turned to Elric-sensei, his confusion giving way to frustration, "What's going on here, Sensei? How are they that strong? Did you train them or something?"
The other delinquents and gyaru girls echoed the question, demanding an explanation.
Elric-sensei shrugged nonchalantly, "A lot has happened, and yes, I trained them. But I almost forgot to mention. Those who do thirty laps get an extra reward around lunch time."
The problem students froze, realizing the implication. Their eyes darted to Miruko's group, who had just completed another lap, and then back to Elric-sensei. The idea of a reward sparked their competitive instincts.
"Let's go!" Riku shouted, taking off at an awkward jog. The others followed suit, their earlier complaints forgotten as they strained to keep up.
Sweat poured down their faces, the delinquents panting heavily. At the same time, the gyaru girls struggled to maintain their pace, their ruined makeup streaking down their faces. Despite their best efforts, their progress lagged far behind Miruko and the Muto twins, who had already reached their thirtieth lap.
By 11:00 am, as Miruko's group crossed the finish line, they collapsed to the ground, laughing through their exhaustion. Miruko stretched out on the grass, breathing deeply. "That was a great workout," she said with a satisfied grin.
The spectacle had drawn the attention of other students peering out from classroom windows. Excited murmurs spread like wildfire, rippling through the crowd. Male students couldn't take their eyes off Miruko's athletic form. In contrast, female students practically squealed at seeing Ichiro and Hiroki's chiseled physiques.
"Whoa, man... Look at Miruko! When did she get this stunning?" one of the boys blurted out, his voice tinged with awe.
"Forget that! Look at those ripped guys!" a girl exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Wait, are those Ichiro and Hiroki? The nerds? When did they turn into freaking male models?!"
The buzz of excitement grew louder as more students gathered, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the unexpected transformation. The onlookers were captivated, their reactions a mix of admiration and astonishment.
Meanwhile, the delinquents and gyaru girls from 3-4 staggered to the finish line, collapsing in heaps of sweat and frustration. The gyaru girls wailed in dismay, frantically trying to salvage their ruined makeup as black streaks ran down their faces.
"You tricked us, Sensei!" Riku groaned, glaring up at Elric-sensei with exhaustion and resentment. His complaint was echoed by the others, their collective groans and curses filling the air.
Miyu, Yuna, and Rika glared at Elric, their voices shrill with outrage. "Look at us! Our makeup is completely ruined! How could you do this to us, Sensei?"
Elric's smile widened slightly, an unmistakable glint of amusement in his eyes. "This," he said, his tone light but firm, "is my joy."
He turned to face the group, his expression shifting to one of playful reprimand. "You brought this on yourselves. Wearing heavy makeup to a workout? You knew what was going to happen. That's not on me. Deal with it."
The gyaru girls fumed, muttering curses, but had no rebuttal. Elric shifted his attention to the delinquent boys, whose indignation hadn't cooled.
"And as for you three," Elric continued, his voice growing sharper, "instead of wasting your time making excuses and whining, why don't you grow up and start acting like men? You're quick to talk, but when it comes to effort, you're all bark and no bite."
The delinquents exchanged glances, clearly not used to being called out so directly. Riku opened his mouth to retort but quickly closed it, realizing he had no defense.
Elric let the silence linger momentarily, his point sinking in as he surveyed the frustrated faces of the delinquent boys and gyaru girls. Despite their fuming expressions and muttered curses, his gaze sharpened. He was no longer focused on their attitudes. His real targets were finally clear.
Among their belongings, disguised as innocent accessories, were cursed objects. Each one carried an ominous aura, hidden as an ornament worn by its bearer. A bracelet here, a pendant there, each radiating a faint but unmistakable malevolence.
"These cursed objects," Elric thought, his eyes narrowing as he pieced them together. "They're influencing them. Brainwashing them. I need to get rid of them before the damage worsens."
His hand moved subtly, inching closer toward the nearest cursed object. He planned his next steps carefully, ready to free the students from their unseen torment.
But before he could act, a sinister laugh pierced the air, cutting through the murmurs like a knife. It was cold and unnatural, the sound reverberating across the schoolyard and sending a chill through everyone present. The laughter carried a malice weight, lingering far longer than it should have.
Every head turned toward the source, an uneasy silence falling over the crowd as the atmosphere grew heavy with dread. Elric's expression darkened, his focus shifting immediately from the cursed objects to the ominous presence now making itself known.