7:45 am.
Time had reached up, everyone who dared enter the JT International High School of Malacca City, are all considered 'late' at this hour.
And the victims are exactly the trio themselves. No one else except entered the school during this time around.
Some school guards shook their heads in disappointment, some just sighed. Even some of the staff who passed by just chuckled.
As long as it was those three who were late, it is normal. It happens all the time. And they don't need to do the reminders, warnings, or give them something to learn.
After all… there was someone waiting just for them inside the school premises. And they all fear that woman.
"Quickly, quickly!" Wyne shouted desperately.
"I'm already running as fast as I can!" Trizha said, panting heavily.
"Running too fast or too much is enough to break bone tissues. That's why most people who do jogging always run only up to 30 minutes." Margaret said, casually.
"What am I going to do with that information?!" Wyne roared.
"I don't know. Be worried it doesn't happen to you, I guess. I mean, possibly, it would."
"Ahhh! Don't tell me that!"
"No."
They run past halls, classrooms, people, even going as far as running upstairs like their life depends on it.
After all, someone was waiting.
"If I had some caffeine, I would eat it for a little bit of boost!" Trizha said, gritting her teeth as she ran.
"Idiot, you're going to pass out if you do!" Wyne exclaimed.
Soon enough, they reached their classroom. Room 312. They burst in, and the classroom can't help but look at them in surprise as the trio breathed heavily from the exhausting marathon.
But that's not the main focus here.
Teacher Myrcella, their adviser, the Head of the entire high school department of this school, was still teaching nonetheless of the trio's appearance.
There was silence in it, only the sounds of the trio's panting can be heard. Trizha, the one that T. Myrcella dislikes the most, became the first to speak out
"T-teacher Myrcella… w-we're sorry that we're late–"
"I didn't ask. Go to the guidance center and get yourselves punished there."
T. Myrcella suddenly said in a cold, commanding tone, not even bothering to look at them with her eyes underneath her glasses.
"Yes ma'am…" All three said in unison.
As the trio move out of the classroom slowly in defeat, T. Myrcella suddenly looked at them.
"Wait."
That word alone, and that tone, was enough to make them freeze from their tracks.
"Where are you three going?"
"To… to the guidance office?" Wyne said nervously.
"You're already here."
And so, intense pressure went down to the trio's spine, predicting the next word she is about to say.
"...and I am the one… who's punishing you three."
T. Myrcella looked down on them with a dangerous look, and the trio can't help but stand there in fear.
"But that'll be later. Be lucky, for now. I wouldn't have let you three musketeers enter my classroom, as informed last time. Now sit down, before I make you stand in the corner until the end of the day."
And with that, T. Myrcella went back to teaching, as the trio immediately moved to their seats, completely in relief.
T. Myrcella then looked down at her paper, then called out a random student of hers.
"Okay… Denice, stand up for me and answer this question."
"Yes ma'am." Denice said with a smile, standing up in confidence.
"If you were to choose between saving the world for obvious reasons, or destroying it for philosophical reasons, which would it be and why?"
All other students murmured to themselves quietly, some asking questions, some even muttering an answer to their friends.
Denice cleared her throat, readying her answer.
"Hmm… if I were to choose one, it would be…–"
Knock, knock.
Soft knocks were suddenly heard by the door of the classroom, and the entire room went silent because of it. Some, if not most students, turned to the door, expecting someone.
At first, T. Myrcella was confused, but she startled herself after realizing and remembering something.
"Ah, I almost forgot—i was going to inform you all about a new classmate coming in our classroom today."
Most of the students gasped in excitement hearing those words. Some were cheered up, some of the male students were expecting a girl, and the girls themselves were thinking the same. That was until T. Myrcella spoke up.
"Piece of advice; don't be too harsh on 'him.'"
The class froze in disbelief. A boy? They didn't expect that.
"Your new classmate… he's a well-known individual. Even the media itself recognises this kid—in his… negative ways, that is. Making absurd rumors about him related to fantasy, like demons."
Murmurs returned, but they were all instantly silenced when the door creaked open and a deep "I'm coming in." was heard.
"As any new classmate that comes to our classroom, I still expect you all courtesy towards him."
A loud sound of a step was heard, echoing all throughout the classroom.
Everyone froze, except for T. Myrcella. If anyone would have a different reaction, it would be Trizha herself, and her only.
She had seen this young man before, and did not expect him to be here at all times…
"Everyone, introducing your new classmate…"
The young man stepped into the classroom. That large body for a young man himself, short hair as if he went through the military, and sharp, constructed cat-like eyes. And that unreadable expression… there was no doubt about it.
Everyone was in disbelief. As much as Trizha is, they recognized this person too well.
"An orphan, belonging from abroad, specifically Japan… Nomoro Ketatsuki."
Trizha's purple eyes went wide, her blonde hair moving as if there was a breeze. She thought he wouldn't see him again.
But sometimes, coincidences can happen.