It only took a few more minutes before the rest of the class filled the hall.
Mrs. Juri stood at the front, her brown coat dusted with a faint layer of golden motes.
Akira felt it again—that subtle tingle down her spine whenever she looked at her.
Then—
Bang.
Mrs. Juri slammed her hand onto the desk.
"Right then. Good morning, class."
Murmurs answered.
Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses.
Her hand rose again.
Then...
BANG.
This time Akira felt it in her bones.
"Good morning, class."
"GOOD MORNING, MA'AM!"
The hall responded in unison.
Juri smirked. "Good. Much better."
Her gaze shifted. "Let's not waste time. Mr. Kinma."
A tired-looking young man forced himself up, eyes barely open.
He looked...older than the others. Like life had held him back more than once.
"Yes, ma'am."
She said nothing—just flicked her eyes at him then the class.
He sighed, turning to the class.
"Morning, guys…" He didn't wait for a response as he pulled out a small blue cube. "You all brought your thingies, right—"
"'Thingies'?" Juri shot him a look.
The young lad felt a chill down his spine.
"G-Guidelines. I meant guidelines, ma'am."
The teacher hummed. "Get on with it."
He nodded quickly. "Right… so basically..." he then explained in detail before summarizing what the use of the cubes was for.
"Yeah, so we need these so we don't… you know… blow up or hurt ourselves—"
"Thank you, Mr. Kinma. You may take your seat."
"…finally," he muttered.
"Have something to share, Mr Kinma?" she deadpanned.
"Nope. Not at all, ma'am."
A few quiet laughs rippled through the class.
Even Akira relaxed a little.
For a moment…
she felt normal.
"Today's lesson will cover two things." Juri continued, the board lighting up behind her without her touching it.
Images of pictures and diagrams drawing themselves. "Energy Distribution and Quantum Energy Formation."
She glanced at Yui. "That means, Ms. Hashibira—no overloading objects with your energy distillator just to see how much Mr. Kinma can 'tank'."
A few students actually laughed.
Yui rolled her eyes. "Yes, ma'am, but I only did that because—"
"I don't care why. The limit is 15 UltraJoules. Anything above that, and you'll be charged with attempted murder."
Even then, a few chuckles slipped out.
Juri continued, going over safety protocols—things that should've been obvious, yet clearly weren't.
Akira leaned slightly toward Yui, tapping her finger.
"Hm?"
"Why only 15 UltraJoules?" Akira whispered. "I thought the international Standard was 20."
Yui smirked. "Because someone once used 50 on a dare. Juri plays it safe now."
Akira blinked. "But… if they're like batteries—too much and they explode, too little and they don't work… how do you keep them stable?"
Yui grinned. "Juri does it for us."
Akira froze at that.
"…what?"
Yui chuckled. "It's true. She regulates everything. Think of her as the school's personal stabilizer. She's got...super impressive reserves."
Akira's eyes widened.
That level of control…
It shouldn't be possible without consequences—
"Ms. Hashinada."
Akira stiffened. "S-Sorry, ma'am!"
"You weren't listening." She stated, a bored expression on her face.
Akira's face flushed with embarrassment.
Juri repeated her statement. "I said come forward."
"Oh…"
She stepped ahead, nerves buzzing under her skin.
"Since Ms. Hashinada is new," Juri continued, "she'll go last."
Murmurs of agreement followed.
Juri turned. "Let's move."
The class filed out toward the open field labs.
Akira caught a glimpse of Mr. Watkins laughing in the staff room as they passed.
Then—
The doors opened.
A massive field stretched ahead, already occupied by other classes.
"Oh… we're not alone," Yui murmured.
"This side," Juri instructed gesturing right.
Students shuffled into position.
"Ms. Hashibira. You're first."
"Yes, ma'am."
Akira sat with the others as Juri erected a shimmering golden barrier around their section.
Her brows furrowed.
"The other classes don't have walls…" Akira thought. "So...why do we?"
"Pay attention."
The voice didn't come from outside.
It hit her mind.
And this time it wasn't just direct.
It was sharper.
Akira straightened instantly.
The other students placed their phones away like they suddenly remembered the rules.
The air changed.
"I want no errors," Juri said.
She wasn't asking.
"You will follow instructions exactly as I give them to you. No questions asked."
"Yes, ma'am."
The teacher's eyes narrowed.
Each student felt their bodies tense uncomfortably
"Speak up." Juri said.
"YES MA'AM!"
"Better."
She handed Yui a small silver capsule filled with liquid.
The moment it touched her hand—
It turned emerald.
The air warped slightly.
Akira noticed.
"Stabilize it," Juri ordered.
Akira's thoughts raced.
"So she really does regulate everything…"
Yui completed the task.
It earned her a near perfect score.
9.8/10.
"Next."
One by one, students stepped forward.
And one by one, they all fell short of the bar Yui had set.
8.9/10.
7.8/10.
9.2/10.
Each attempt was corrected.
Controlled.
Adjusted.
5.4/10.
"You can do better than that Mr Hekita."
Another student.
Orange filled the air.
9.6/10.
"Good." Mrs Juri said, her lips curving faintly. "You did better than last time."
"I've got a great teach."
"Teacher." Juri corrected immediately. "Now go take your seat, Mr Kinma."
He waltzed back to his seat next to Yui, grinned as wide as he could. "I'm catching up."
Yui scoffed. "Yeah because of your mom."
"Aunt." He corrected with a playful laugh.
Another student went forward.
7.9/10.
Then another.
Akira watched carefully.
She couldn't help but notice the slight flicker of something beneath her eyes whenever a student did something wrong.
[ "Juri plays it safe now..." ]
If she fixes everything…
"…do they actually learn?" she muttered her thoughts beneath her breath.
"Ms. Hashinada."
She snapped back.
Her turn.
Her chest tightened as she stepped forward.
Each step was shakier than the last.
The last time this happened...
...memories crept in.
[ "You nearly killed him." ]
[ "I'm sorry, Mr Hoshino but we have no choice but to have her transferred." ]
She stood in front of her professor.
"Are you ready?"
"…yes, ma'am."
Her voice was too uncertain.
And yet.
"Your hand."
She extended it.
Sweaty.
Nervous.
Shaky.
The teacher's eyes sharpened.
"Begin."
The moment the capsule touched her palm—
Flash.
A violent purple light exploded outward.
The barrier flickered immediately, bending and distorting violently.
Other classes turned.
"What the hell—?" Some students murmured.
Yui's eyes widened.
"Akira..."
The students tensed.
But Juri—
"Interesting..."
She tapped the capsule.
The energy died down to embers.
Akira gasped softly. "You're stabilizing me—?"
"No," Juri said calmly. "Precaution."
Then.
She released it again.
The energy surged back.
Stronger.
Brighter, almost blinding.
Juri didn't flinch.
"Push it."
Akira froze. "I—I can't—"
"Follow my orders."
"Ma'am, she's not stable—!" Yui shouted.
"Stay back." She commanded, eyes never leaving Akira's hands.
The pressure rose.
Akira's breathing broke.
"I can't—I'm scared—"
[ "You're a monster." ]
Her eyes shut.
"No… I didn't mean…"
"Akira."
Juri's voice cut through.
"Listen to me."
"I can't—!"
"AKIRA!" Yui screamed.
And for a split second—
Juri's eyes glowed.
Then the light dipped.
Juri's expression darkened immediately.
And in the next instant.
Everything broke.
A piercing high pitched screech split the air apart.
The barrier collapsed.
Purple and gold light erupted violently.
The ground tore apart.
Concrete shredded.
The air screamed.
And then.
Crack!
Juri crushed the capsule.
The energy instantly surged through her body, illuminating her veins and arteries with a deep purple glow before steam poured out her nostrils.
A deep inhale.
A sharper exhale.
And everything died out within the next moment.
Silence.
Yui's eyes widened as they landed on Akira on the floor.
"Akira!"
She rushed over to her.
Juri's hands returned to her coat's pockets as her dimly glowing eyes stared at Akira.
Akira lay on the ground, curled in on herself, shaking.
Hands over her ears.
Breathing breaking.
Throat too tight.
Ground too hot.
The world still ringing.
Students from other classes rushed over.
No one was hurt.
But everyone felt it.
"Akira, are you okay!? You're not hurt right?"
Yui didn't get a response, just a slight flinch when she touched her.
Juri stood still.
Watching.
Those metallic frames adjusted beneath her finger as golden motes peeled off them like chaff.
"I told you to follow my orders."
As whispers spread.
Some stared in awe.
Others stepped back.
But one thing was clear—
Something had changed.
Something had happened to Akira Hashinada.