-----
-----
Black Sky No. 16, No. 18, No. 22
"Sorry, Mr. Stark, I need to check what's going on."
On the Spot.
Elena's best friend—the brunette.
After seeing Elena leave, she looked at Ron with an apologetic expression.
She reached out and shook his hand lightly.
The moment they touched—Her face changed drastically.
She quickly pulled away, as if she had just touched something terrifying.
Then, without hesitation, she turned and ran after Elena.
Her back was to Ron.
But her eyes flickered, filled with disbelief.
'Red eyes?'
'A hundred-meter-tall wooden giant?'
'Surrounded by countless bolts of lightning?'
'Powerful enough to destroy an entire town with ease?!'
'What the hell is he?!'
And just then—A figure appeared beside her.
"I think Elena went into the men's restroom."
"You probably shouldn't go in, so let me check instead."
The voice in her ear sent a shiver down her spine.
She didn't dare defy Ron.
She immediately stopped walking.
Lowering her head, she avoided his gaze.
"O-okay... Sorry for the trouble, teacher."
"No trouble at all."
Ron kept walking, heading straight for the men's restroom.
Elena's friend seemed to be some kind of... medium? A witch?
She had some kind of sensing ability.
She must have felt my power.
Well, if she sensed it, then she sensed it. No big deal.
Other than that missing original vampire, there's nothing in this world that can really threaten me.
The power ceiling here isn't that high.
But vampires and werewolves... now those are interesting.
Especially their insane regeneration abilities.
And immortality.
I wonder if I could turn that into a serum...
Inside the Restroom.
"Jeremy, you're amazing! First day of school and already doing drugs!"
"I'm not!"
"Come on, where are you hiding it? Hand it over!"
"Quit searching! I said I don't have anything! Can you calm down?!"
"Calm down? Look at yourself, you're totally high!"
As Ron reached the restroom door, he overheard the conversation inside.
Yes, classic All-American teenagers.
No matter which world you're in—Drugs, girls, and sex are always the main themes.
Pushing the door open, he walked in.
"Elena, need some help?"
"Oh~? Ron, you, me, and him..."
She had been so angry at her brother's condition that she hadn't even thought before storming into the men's restroom.
Now, seeing Ron here, she was suddenly flustered.
Ron walked in with a smile.
"I know, he's your brother, Jeremy."
Elena looked surprised. "How do you know?"
Ron pointed at the door. "I heard from outside."
"Also, don't you think this is the wrong place to have this conversation?"
"Why don't we step outside first?"
Elena nodded. "Okay."
Ron turned to Jeremy. "Jeremy?"
After a few seconds of silence, Jeremy lowered his head. "Let's go."
Just Outside the Restroom.
The moment they stepped out, they ran into someone.
Ron smiled. "Oops, sorry. Could you step aside?"
"Oh..." Stefan started moving aside—Then suddenly, he noticed Elena behind Ron.
He froze for a moment.
Then his eyes locked onto her like a magnet.
He stared, unblinking.
"Uh, excuse me, Mister 'Looks Like a Vampire,'" Ron said, patting him on the shoulder.
His casual words sent shockwaves through Stefan's mind, making his pupils shrink violently.
"Elena is just an 18-year-old girl. You better not be some creepy old dude preying on the young."
Without waiting for Stefan's reaction, Ron casually walked past him with Elena and Jeremy.
Elena's confused voice rang out.
"Ron, why did you call him 'Mister'?"
Ron shrugged. "Because he is one."
Elena frowned. "But he looks younger than you."
Ron blinked.
"Some people... you can't judge just by their appearance."
"Like me, for example—I look like a sunny, handsome, funny, and charming guy that everyone loves."
"But deep down... I'm even better than that."
"Ew~~~" Elena wrinkled her nose in mock disgust.
"So all that talking, just to brag about yourself?"
Ron laughed.
"No way, my point is—you can't judge people just by their looks. You have to look at their hearts."
Elena rolled her eyes. "And in your heart? All I see is narcissism."
Ron gently patted her head.
"Nope."
"If you could really see my heart..."
"You'd find a beautiful girl inside—who looks exactly like you."
Elena's face turned red. She swatted his hand away and ran ahead.
"Ron, you're way too smooth with your flirting! You sound like a total player—I need to stay away from you!"
Ron watched her youthful figure bounce as she ran.
Her little skirt swaying side to side.
He turned to Jeremy and shrugged.
"Life's actually pretty amazing. Don't keep drowning in the past."
"Enjoy the present—that's what you should be doing."
"Hmph! What do you know?!"
Jeremy scoffed and stormed off.
"....."