Monday arrived with a gentle breeze and clear skies.
Adrian walked towards the school once again, his hands in his pockets with the morning sun glowing warmly against his skin.
The injury was nearly healed now, and it would likely be fully healed within just a few more days.
His mind then wandered back to yesterday.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as memories of Hazuki Yuu flooded in.
Adrian had spent nearly two hours breaking the poor kid down, turning his pathetic blackmail attempt into a masterclass of dominance and humiliation.
By the time he left, Yuu was a trembling, cum-filled mess who could barely form coherent words.
He had considered stopping by the bridge afterward. Because from his memories Natsuki would be there masturbating after being left blue-balled by Yuu.
The thought of getting another cute trap was tempting but after fucking Yuu for so long, Adrian decided against it.
Natsuki had likely already gone back to his hotel room by then.
There was no need to rush. Because after all by next Sunday, Yuu will probably drag himself back to the bridge out of guilt or confusion. With Natsuki coming back there too.
That'll be the perfect time to play with both of them.
He adjusted the strap of his bag and rolled his shoulders, feeling refreshed.
As he approached the school gates, a few of his classmates spotted him. Adrian raised a hand casually, offering his usual easygoing smile.
"Morning–"
The words barely left his mouth before the group scattered like startled rabbits, hurrying away with panicked looks on their faces. One of the girls even let out a small yelp.
Adrian's hand remained raised for a moment before he slowly lowered it, his smile fading into a slight frown.
'…What the hell?'
He stood there for a few seconds, watching them disappear down the hallway.
Then realization came to him quickly.
It was probably Coach Tougou's doing. News of the incident or perhaps a heavily exaggerated version of it, had likely spread through the school, and now people were looking at him like some kind of violent delinquent.
Adrian let out a low chuckle, though there was no real amusement in it.
He continued walking with hands in his pockets.
The reaction lingered in the back of his mind as he made his way down the hallway.
Their reaction felt oddly familiar.
Adrian had seen similar things during his years as a salaryman.
Whenever someone got caught up in a workplace scandal or when a nasty rumor started spreading, people tended to keep their distance until they understood the situation.
Not because they necessarily hated the person, but because getting involved was simply too much trouble. They had their own lives, their own reputations, and their own peace to protect.
Adrian understood that logic all too well, but understanding it and experiencing it were two different things. Seeing people quietly distance themselves stirred an unpleasant feeling in his chest.
For a moment, he was reminded of his old world, when he was just another ordinary man, easily overlooked and quickly forgotten.
As that thought settled in, he caught his reflection in one of the corridor windows.
He wasn't wearing a bandage anymore and the small scar on his head was barely noticeable, but the story behind it had clearly traveled faster than his recovery.
He let out a breath and continued walking.
When he slid open the door to his classroom, the lively morning chatter died almost instantly.
The entire room fell into an awkward, heavy silence. Dozens of eyes flicked toward him for a brief moment before darting away.
Some students suddenly became very interested in their phones or the insides of their bags. Others stared at their notebooks or out the window.
Adrian stepped inside without saying a word, keeping his expression calm and neutral.
Only one person moved toward him.
"Adrian-kun!"
Yukiko hurried over to him, her face filled with concern. She stopped right in front of him and her eyes immediately looked onto the faint mark on his head.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, voice laced with worry. "I heard about what happened with the soccer club… Does it still hurt? You should've taken at least one week off."
She gently reached up, her fingers hovering hesitantly near the side of his head as if afraid she might accidentally cause him pain.
Adrian's expression softened a bit.
"I'm fine, Yukiko." He replied quietly, offering her a small reassuring smile. "Thanks for worrying about me. The injuries are mostly healed, so there's nothing to worry about."
She let out a visible sigh of relief, though the worry in her eyes didn't completely disappear. For a short moment, her genuine warmth made the heaviness in Adrian's heart feel a little lighter.
But the moment was fleeting.
The rest of the class remained deathly quiet. No one else approached. No one else even offered a greeting.
Adrian walked to his seat near the back of the classroom. Yukiko lingered near him for a few seconds longer, clearly wanting to say more, before reluctantly returning to her own seat with one last worried glance in his direction.
As he sat down, Adrian leaned back slightly and gazed out the window.
'People really haven't changed.' He thought calmly.
The occasional glances continued throughout the homeroom, but he paid no attention to them.
When the teacher finally entered and began the morning announcements, the classroom slowly regained some of its usual rhythm, though the earlier tension never fully disappeared.
Adrian rested his chin on his hand, half-listening to the teacher while his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
What he's feeling wasn't anger or even disappointment. Just a quiet heaviness, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Since arriving in this world, Adrian had changed far more than he was willing to admit.
In his previous life, every action had to be cautious, and every decision must be weighed properly.
Years of soul-crushing deadlines, office politics, and the constant fear of falling behind had trained him to keep his head down and move carefully. He had learned to survive by doing that.
But ever since coming into this world everything felt different.
He had money, a strong and healthy body, and no real pressure weighing him down. Somewhere along the way, something inside him had loosened.
For the first time in years or perhaps in his entire life, he felt truly free.
He spent money on a whim. He took risks simply because he could. He acted on impulses that the old him would have buried without a second thought. And he had been unexpectedly kind to certain people, lowering his guard far more easily than he ever would have in the past.
Even the self-imposed rules he tried to follow sometimes felt more like something to keep in mind rather than actual limitations.
Adrian stared out the window, resting his chin on his hand.
'I feel like a kid who just got out of being grounded.'
He didn't regret it, not exactly. After decades of living under constant pressure, this newfound freedom felt intoxicating. But moments like this, sitting in a silent classroom while most of his classmates quietly kept their distance, reminded him that freedom didn't change how society worked.
People were still people.
Selfish. Self-absorbed. Always acting for their own self-interest. Even Yukiko's genuine concern most likely existed because they had already built some connection beforehand.
If they had been strangers would she still rush over like that? Probably not.
It was simply human nature, after all.
Affection, care, loyalty… These things rarely appeared out of nowhere.
They were built on existing bonds, shared experiences, or personal benefit. Without that foundation, most people would choose the safer option: To keep their distance.
Adrian let out a slow breath, a faint smile touching his lips.
'Right… that's simply how it is.'
The realization didn't upset him. If anything, it felt humbling. That no matter how free or powerful he became in this new world, some fundamental truths remained unchanged.
The thought left him strangely reflective as the morning lesson continued around him.
- - - - -
The first period eventually came to an end, leaving the classroom in an awkward silence once more.
Adrian paid the atmosphere little mind and spent the break chatting with Yukiko about everything he had missed from Friday.
As the conversation went on, the other students gradually relaxed. Seeing Adrian casually talking and laughing with Yukiko made him seem far less intimidating than the rumors suggested.
Before long, whispers began to spread through the classroom again, and the students slowly stopped treating him as though he were some dangerous delinquent.
===========
AN: A bit weak of a chapter in my opinion, but a necessary one. I needed something to temper Adrians temperant but yeah. I mostly zone out lol. I'm also starting to feel lazy and bored but thats a given considering how it's my vacation.
I'm also craving a fic that of course my mind made up when I'm about to sleep. An Evil Genius type System was given to the MC who will reincarnate in Tensura. Human MC with a template of Akashi from knb, he's in tensura for a decade now and amassed a pretty substantial Minions/People.
And while he was working another system pop up showing that canon is starting and livestreaming will begin. (yknow those things that livestream anime fics where the more popular you are the more points you get...) Now what this entails for anything... Nothing, I just wanted to share it lol.
Anyway's I'mma laze around... Have a nice and lazy day....