The teacher wrote a few theories on the board. Everyone already knew them—it had been hammered into their brains like nails into wood.
She finished writing all three before setting the marker down. With a snap of her fingers, golden motes drifted into the air around the book she had brought.
"Today's lesson will be a recap of what we know about energy," she said simply.
Her hand waved casually, and the room slowly filled with glowing particles.
Akira seemed to be the only one amazed. She caught a few odd glances from her peers and immediately shrank under them.
Yui, however, wasn't paying attention to her at all—focused, as expected from one of the top students.
"Right then," the professor began, shaping a complex molecular diagram with the golden motes, "as I'm sure we all know—" she paused, glancing at Akira, "that includes you too, Ms Akira—"
Akira straightened instantly, paying attention now as her palms itched.
"Energy is a constant in the universe," the professor continued, reshaping the glowing structure with practiced ease. "It is, quite simply, the matter of existence. Everything has energy—even these old desks that have seen both world wars."
A few students laughed, others straightened to pay attention as the molecules expanded.
"The First LawofEssence states that energy is what, class?"
"In all existing things," some answered in unison, others murmuring.
"Oh? Is that what Mr Watkins taught you?" she asked, casting a brief, judging look across the room.
"It states that all existing things—physical and non-physical—have a certain frequency of energy," Yui said casually, like it was just another Tuesday.
The professor hummed. "Correct—"
"depending on their size, origin, and proportional value," Akira added softly.
Yui's eyes flicked to her, widening slightly, like she had just remembered the rest of a forgotten formula.
The professor paused again. "Come again, Ms Akira?"
All eyes turned.
Akira froze. Her palms tingled.
"I-I was just adding to what Y-Yui said," she stammered.
"And what did Yui say?"
Akira swallowed. "All existing things—physical and non-physical—have a certain frequency of energy..."
"And what did you say?"
"I added that the frequency depends on origin, size, and proportional value, ma'am..."
The professor's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile tugging at the edge of her lips.
"Explain to the class what that means."
Akira's eyes widened. "M-me?"
"I am speaking to you, am I not? Go on. Explain what those factors mean." She waved a hand. "You may use the energy constructs to visualize your definition."
Yui looked at Akira. Akira glanced back nervously.
For a moment, just a moment, Yui saw something flicker behind those violet eyes.
Akira stood.
Too many eyes.
Too many faces.
Too loud.
Her gaze briefly locked onto someone laughing in the crowd. Her chest tightened.
No.
No, this was bad...
Was she like Mr Watkins? Was this going to become another—
"We don't have all day, Ms Akira," the professor cut in. "You only need to explain your definition."
Yui's expression softened.
Mrs Juri never did this…
So why now?
Akira closed her eyes for a second.
Then opened them.
They landed on Yui.
She lifted her hands.
"U-Uhm… g-good morning, class…"
A few students murmured.
"Well? She said good morning," Juri said flatly. "Respond."
The class answered properly this time.
Akira exhaled.
Just speak.
That's all.
[ "How'd I get over stage fright? Easy. I used to stare at something—like a clock—and imagine I was talking to it instead of people." ]
She exhaled again.
Then focused.
"O-Okay… so energy works like this..."
She drew a circle. "This circle is you."
Then a dot.
"This is your energy."
Next to it, a cube. Then a larger circle and cube beside it—repeated three times, each scale increasing.
On the third set, she stepped back and waved her hand.
Every student's desk mirrored the shapes.
Even Mrs Juri's.
"The circle has energy inside it regardless of size. That's the first part—all things, people, even objects… have energy."
She glanced at Juri.
A faint nod.
Permission.
Akira continued.
"Each circle can interact with its cube… but not every circle can use every cube."
Her hands moved faster now, lines and connections forming clean diagrams mid-air. Some students began to scribble on paper.
"Smaller circles can't use bigger cubes. The energy inside is too small."
Yui's mouth parted slightly. She remembered Akira from yesterday.
"This is… so clear," she whispered.
By the end, Akira looked back at Juri.
A faint smirk.
"Impressive," the professor said. Then, to the class, "It seems we may not need Mr Watkins for much longer."
A few students chuckled. Even Yui did.
Akira was told to sit.
"That was… incredible…" Yui whispered as she sat beside her.
"T-Thank you," Akira murmured. "I just… explained it the way my brother taught me."
Yui looked at her longer this time. "You hybrids really are something else."
Akira froze for half a second.
Panic seizing her.
Then—
"...I'm kinda jealous."
...
Akira's eyes widened. "What—?"
"Oh dear," Juri cut in, "it seems our little professor wants a private lesson. Unfortunately, I don't share my lectures, Ms Hashinada. You'll have to wait."
Akira jolted upright. "S-Sorry! I'm sorry, it won't happen again!"
Juri hummed and continued the lesson.
Akira remained bowed a moment too long.
Her gaze softened as she stared blankly at the book in front of her.
"...jealous?"