The sounds of chatter spread throughout the field, hearing the bursting energies from the youth. All wearing the same uniform of their assigned white, red, and black clothing. Although the sounds were quite loud to be heard from the courtyard, it intercepted the conflicting sound of the wind gently blowing onto its green yet soft nature blanket. This calm breeze travelled far, gently washing the sensation of cold air onto a resting young man.
The individual welcomed this breeze resting on top of a tree trunk, using it as support as he sleeps away from the worries and pressures of daily life. He wore the same clothing as those from the courtyard, yet his uniform held a different accessory to others. Beneath his shoulders wearing a black armband reading 'Disciplinary Committee Captain.' He didn't give a care in the world as he looked at the fields with an apathetic expression. He was not worried about the time or his tasks but simply drowning away his thoughts, reaching a state of peace.
"Ace, the break is almost over. Didn't you say we're going to study in our free period?" A feminine voice called out to the young man.
Ace, who heard the voice, slowly lifted his head to meet the person's eyes that called out to him. His dark eyes slowly brightened up at the sight he saw, giving a faint smile at the same time.
A beautiful young woman appeared before Ace. Her most noticeable features were her sky-blue eyes and silky smooth brown hair. Known to be the beauty of their academy, Aria's appearance is known throughout the whole school. Her perfect slim figure and youthful doll-like face were a work of art for many to admire but at the same time despise. Her spirit at one point almost broke to the point she longer clings to her very life. But thanks to the man that's looking at her, she's alive and well.
"Just give me another minute." Ace turned his back towards her attempting to have another minute of rest.
Aria fidgeted with her hair to ease her anxiousness seeing the young man before her. Although Aria initiated to get Ace herself, she failed her initial task. She watched him slowly close his eyes, even if it was for a few precious seconds.
"Ace, both Vella and Warren are waiting. I don't want to drag you just because I said so..."
Although he heard Aria's request, he quickly returned to his short slumber. Aria did not want to trouble him and hesitated. Instead, she waited for him, enjoying the sight of watching Ace sleep for an extra minute holding a smile.
The bell started to ring, signalling all the students to get back to their class. The loud ring noise of the bell caused Ace to reflex out of his position.
"Sorry for the wait. Shall we get going?"
Ace stood up as he grabbed his bag, watching the patient girl gaze back, realising that she had been staring at him for far too long.
"Oh right...! Sorry...!"
"Come on you're staring into space. Wouldn't want that to happen for the test today." Ace pointed out.
The two of them began walking to meet up with the rest of their friends as they continued the chatter along the way.
"I won't space out. You know that besides, you always do!" Aria made a pouty expression. Since she always watched him from a distance, she would know some of Ace's habits.
"Alright, alright, calm down. I'll still get decent marks anyways." Ace boasted.
"You sound pretty confident. Do you want to make a small competition?"
Aria upped her tone, showing confidence in her expression. Ace knew her secret intentions and exposed her right away.
"*Sigh* Okay, the winner receives a free strawberry shortcake from the bakery."
"A free shortcake that sounds fun, right Warren?" The voice came from another girl sitting on one of the lunch tables with a boy next to her.
The young girl had a cheerful yet mature look with shoulder-length hair. On her own, she would be described as beautiful, but when you place her next to Aria, she would stand out as a normal girl.
On the other hand, the boy she sat with looked pretty normal. He didn't stand out or anything but held a charisma to draw others in. He had a definition in his arms, holding an athletic build all around.
These two are Vella and Warren, who are good friends to both Ace and Aria. They scheduled to meet up on their shared free period to revise for the upcoming test in their next period.
"You're late Ace!" Warren shouted.
"I know that already. Come on let's begin the revise session."
Everyone brought out their books and stationery, discussing the various topics that would be on their test. Everyone would pitch in their discussions on approaching various topics whilst leaning in to jolt down last-minute notes they would revise. Every time they had some sort of pop quiz or test, it was routine as this group would pass with high marks.
After 30 minutes of studying, the group took a break.
"Well, I'd say we should be more than prepared," Vella stretched her arms.
"With the baseball club training for the tournament, I'm surprised you're able to keep up Warren." Ace said.
"I have to if I fail now whos going to carry the team?!"
Warren made a severe expression towards Ace. This was, in fact, true for Warren's part, as he truly is the backbone of his team. The countless victories have all happened with his skill, and build. Showing off that he is a natural-born baseball player.
"That's true, but I do hope we can go on a date soon. You always train for your club."
Vella pouted as she looked at the boy beside her.
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Warren noticed the sad expression on Vella's face and instantly replied to make her feel better.
"Ugh, I'm sorry. Oh, I know! Let's go to the arcade after school. Tokens are on me!"
"I'd like that," Vella slowly smiled.
"I'll shout you guys too." He looked towards Aria and Ace.
"Oh, we're invited to this?" Ace asked.
"Who do you think?"
"Maybe I can get that dragon plushie this time." Aria gripped her fists with excitement.
The four of them continued their friendly chatter. The strong gust of wind interrupted their conversation as their books kept flipping their pages slowly being lifted off the table. The wind was so strong that it was enough to carry such weight.
Ace, who had fast enough reflexes, caught the books holding a confident smirk until a piece of paper collided with his face.
"You tried hard to look cool there." Warren.
"...I tried."
"Hehehe..." The laughter came from Aria.
Ace grabbed the flier attached to his face. Reading out '3rd Anniversary of the disappearance of Class 2-3.'
"Well, this killed the mood." Ace held out the flyer, his eyes widened at the words.
"What is it?" Warren asked.
Ace showed everyone the poster, and they all knew what it meant.
The cheerful mood disappeared with only emptiness and concern to fill the atmosphere.
There have been a few reports of disappearing people ranging from 16-20 years old in every country. Class 2-3 was no exception as this class disappeared from their school. They disappeared out of thin air with no scientific explanation as to why.
"To think they would've graduated by now..." Ace focused his sights on the poster. His expression had drastically changed after seeing the poster.
"Ace?" Aria said in a concerned tone. It was a surprise that Ace had suddenly acted this way for her.
"Sorry, was just thinking of the worst-case scenario."
"It won't happen there. Besides hasn't been any for a while," Warren said.
"You're right, the disappearing has stopped since then anyway." Despite Ace saying that he held a dejected tone.
"Enough of that we have a test to worry about, it's best not to dwell in the past,"
Vella changed the concerned mood about the vanished class reverting their attention to their test.
"Yeah... You're right..." Ace replied, continuing on to a more despondent tone. His mind was elsewhere before Warren broke him out of his depressing thoughts.
"Aren't we already prepared? I'm bored with this." Warren said.
"...I agree," Ace added, trying to act as if he wasn't affected by the contents of the poster.
"It can't be helped... I think we overstudied anyway." Vella closed her books.
They concluded the revision session.
The group continued to go on with their various conversations. Warren talked to Ace about games whilst Vella talked to Aria about different dessert places until the bell rang.
The four packed their things and made their way to class, firing potential test questions that may come their way and some answering back on how they would answer it. This continued until they reached the classroom.
Along the way, various people greeted with one giving a love letter to Ace as he is pretty popular in school. As part of the disciplinary committee, he has resolved various student disputes and stopped many bullying events. Thanks to him, the school is now a safe place to socialise and learn.
"So are you going to meet that girl?" Vella asked.
Ace didn't look happy that he received such a letter but looked at it with an apathetic expression. He quickly read the contents and sighed. It's not the first time he received such a message, he politely folded the letter placing it in his bag.
"Are you going to reject her?" Aria asked.
"Isn't it obvious...? I don't know her to be honest." Ace answered.
"Hehe is someone worried?" Vella whispered to Aria. Causing Aria to be embarrassed. Ace noticed her expression keeping a small smile to himself without anyone realising it.
The four finally made it to their class, with the whole class greeting the four. People are still revising until the last minute, and others are still chatting on whatever conversation.
"Hey, there Ace, can you pass this on to the Disciplinary Teacher when you can."
A friendly-looking student came up to Ace, handing him a folder. Emitting a charismatic aura to the point that anyone can approach him as if they were best friends.
"Sure Alan. Good thing you're the class captain you're always on top of things." He gave a faint smile to him.
Alan has the role of the Class Captain who organises what the class does during events and festivals. He also has to go to student councils that report how things around the school can be improved. During the voting for this role, Ace was the one who nominated Alan rather than himself.
"Of course, you ready for the test?"
"Hm, more or less, but what I'm really worried about is this baseball idiot here." He pointed at Warren, who was still talking happily to Vella.
"Haha looks like everyone will be fine," He said with relief.
"What about you Alan?" That question came behind Ace, where Alan noticed Aria trying to peek behind Ace as he was just a bit taller.
"You're always doing the class captain stuff after school." Aria finally stepped out, standing next to Ace for Alan to see her.
"Perfectly ready. Can't mess up this one otherwise. We won't get that class reward," Alan said with excitement.
"Sounds like everyone is here and ready for the test!"
The class teacher appeared before everyone unlocked the door to the classroom. Before entering, he looked dumbfounded at what he was trying to remember judging by his fidgeting and expressions.
"Are you okay sir?" A student asked.
Then the teacher remembered what he had forgotten face-palmed at his carelessness.
"AAH! I FORGOT TO BRING YOUR TESTS WITH ME! You guys sit down and revise over some last-minute notes I'll run straight to the office and get it."
"Yes! More time to revise for this test!" A student spoke out. Ace and Warren recognised the voice and looked at each other.
"Yeah yeah, you're very lucky Caspar! Now then, I'll be back in hopefully a minute." The teacher hurried back to his office to get the test for the students.
"That's Caspar for you," Warren commented.
"You must've not studied enough", Ace said as he walked over to Caspar.
"Ugh shut up. I took a longer break than expected last night."
"Excuses." Warren fired.
"Let's head to our seats, I'll fire some practice questions to Caspar and the others that will surely be on the test." Alan popped into the conversation.
"Thanks!" The group of friends around Ace shouted.
Everyone entered the classroom sitting down in their designated seating arrangements. Preparing for the test that will eventually come to them.
A minute passed, and there was no sign of the teacher. Ace passed the time by staring at the window but immediately felt nauseous, almost as if he wanted to vomit. It wasn't just him that felt unwell. He looked beside him where Aria was sitting and noticed she made the motion of trying to clear her head.
"Huh...? You too...?" Ace asked Aria.
"Oh... I thought it was just me... thinking it was nerves..."
The whole class began vibrating, emitting a nauseous atmosphere. No one was safe from this sensation as everyone either tried to keep their balance or hold onto their head as a way to clear their mind.
Immediately a bright yellow symbol appeared on the whole classroom floor, with unknown symbols rotating around the circle. It brightened up the entire classroom raising panics and concerns about what was happening.
'My Body...? I can't move it...?!'
Ace, who was stuck in his seat, tried every limb in his body to run outside. He lost the sensation of the ground as he watched the giant symbol slowly engulf the room in light.
"Hey...! I can't be the only one who can't move!" He shouted.
"Sorry... I think everyone is affected, Ace!" Alan shouted back.
"Damn it!"
"I feel sick...!"
"This can't be...!"
Every student started panicking at the light slowly getting brighter and brighter. In one brilliant flash, every student in the classroom had suddenly disappeared. The left-out books and bags remained as they were scattered throughout the whole room.
Their teacher had finally arrived but was shocked at the empty classroom. This wasn't the first time such an event had happened at the school, reminding them of the disappearance that happened to Class 2-3. He stared at the empty seats, mortified at how his beloved class was now gone from this world. The school searched everywhere, and they were nowhere to be found, just like the others before them.
The news of this event impacted those connected to the students that disappeared. Reminding everyone in the world that these disappearances may happen once again.