Arkens sat on the edge of his seat, gripping his pants tightly as he awaited the figure whose foot had just stepped into the classroom. It was just another ordinary day for everyone else, but the atmosphere felt charged with a different kind of energy for him. The room began to spin slightly, and he found himself hyper-focused on the door. All outside occurrences faded away, leaving him in a bubble of silence where every other living being seemed to evaporate like mist.

The only thing grounding him, in reality, was the sweat trickling down his face as he patiently waited. It felt as if time had stopped just for him. Finally, a head popped into view when the foot entered, revealing a strong face adorned with minor scratches. A white bandage shaped like a rectangle was plastered on his right cheek, a clear sign of the battle Arkens had witnessed. His heart raced as he recognized the figure. Mr. Damatsu was finally here.

"Oh! Mr. Damatsu?".

A student in the front row noticed and immediately identified the individual, murmuring his name in surprise. Arkens's stomach churned and twisted at the sound, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over him as Mr. Damatsu fully entered the room. The teacher wore his usual attire from the first day of school, but there were noticeable differences this time. He appeared injured, his arm held in a sling, looking weary.

The sight shocked everyone, and the room fell into stunned silence, only to be broken by hushed whispers that spread like wildfire among the students. Shocked expressions filled the classroom as they processed their teacher's alarming state. Then, breaking the ice, someone finally spoke up, their voice cutting through the tension.

"Mr. D-Damatsu.. What happened? Are you alright?".

Soon after, the students began to murmur, their concerns spilling out in a flurry of questions, each overlapping the other as they sought answers. Mr. Damatsu raised his functional hand to calm them, signaling for silence. He cleared his throat, the tension in the room palpable as he prepared to address their worries.

"I'm fine, as you all can see. I was simply involved in a bit of an automobile accident. It wasn't anything serious; my arm is broken, so please be easy on me".

The students exchanged glances before responding with a resounding "Yes!" in unison, eager to show their support and concern for Mr. Damatsu. However, Arkens remained silent, his mind racing with thoughts and questions about the teacher's injuries.

"That's insane- Mr. Damatsu was completely unscathed yesterday, and he's recked the next morning. A car accident at that, too".

Watsu glanced at Arkens, who seemed lost in his little world. His expression was distant as he processed the chaotic events of the past day. Watsu waved a hand before his face, trying to snap him back to reality.

"Hey Arkens, what's up with you? You're worrying me again. Are you not feeling good? If so, I'm forcing you to the nurse's office".

Arkens shook his head, breaking free from his thoughts, and allowed his hand to unravel from his grip on his pants, leaving behind creases from gripping them too tightly. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease in his stomach.

"I-I'm good, Watsu.. The Mr. Damatsu thing is getting to me. He was fine yesterday, and next thing you know, he's beaten to a pulp".

Watsu felt that unnerving sensation washes over him again, a familiar instinct he had always trusted when sensing if someone was in danger or troubled. He recalled his mistake in not acting on his intuition the first time, leading to the scene in the gym with Arkens's collapse. Determined not to let it happen again, he straightened his posture and plastered a smile, trying to mask his concern and maintain a lighthearted atmosphere. Deep down, however, he knew he needed to keep a closer eye on Arkens.

"I know, right? Mr. Damatsu looks like a tank; he probably got hit by the speeding car, making a huge dent in the hood! Then he stands up unfazed with just a broken arm! He's kinda cool, showing up with these injuries and pretending it's another regular day".

Arkens shook his head in disagreement, a soft laugh escaping his lips despite the uncertainty in his mind.

"Pssh- no way that happened; if it did, he'd be dead. No human can survive a high-speed collision, let alone damage the car and come out with a broken arm".

The two of them engaged in a playful back-and-forth, creating ridiculous scenarios about human limitations and laughing at the absurdity of it all. Their lighthearted conversation provided a brief escape from the seriousness of the morning. As the morning homeroom classes ended, students began to filter out through the doors, the noise of chatter filling the air. Just as Arkens was about to step out, a rough, deep voice called out to him that cut through the crowd.

"Arkens Ebihara, I would like to speak with you during the lunch period today. I'll be in this class, awaiting your arrival. It would be much appreciated".

Arkens felt a strong presence, a heaviness that seemed to crush his shoulders, making him instinctively bite his bottom lip and gulp.

"And what if I don't want to?..".

Mr. Damatsu turned away from Arkens and faced the chalkboard behind him, his movements deliberate as he began to write on it.

"It's entirely up to you, Ebihara. But if I were to stress my request enough, I recommend you do".

As Arkens twisted his body slightly to keep an eye on Mr. Damatsu while still in motion to leave through the exit, he caught a glimpse of the teacher's focused expression.

"Is that a threat, Mr. Damatsu?".

Mr. Damatsu's face was glued to the chalkboard as he meticulously wrote down instructions and phrases related to the science lessons he planned to teach.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Threat? Ebihara, I assure you, I do not need to threaten anyone needlessly. It's for your well-being you arrive here soon. As I said before, I'd recommend it. Heavily".

The classroom grew quiet as the last student filtered out, leaving an empty room behind. Arkens closed his eyes for a brief moment, feeling overwhelmed, then took off running down the hallway, muttering curses about his life under his breath.

Time moved forward, and the meeting began. Mr. Damatsu stood behind the podium, flipping through the papers he was preparing to present. Just then, the classroom door swung open, and a visibly anxious Arkens stepped inside, his heart racing as he entered the room.

"I'm here. Just like you wanted".

Mr. Damatsu paid no mind to Arkens's entrance, flipping through the papers on the podium. His focus remained on the materials in front of him, oblivious to the boy's apprehension.

"That's great. Now, make yourself comfortable. Before you do, close and lock the door for privacy's sake".

Arkens did as he was asked, strolling to a desk in the middle row of the classroom. He positioned himself atop the desk despite the anxiety swirling in his stomach. As he settled in, Mr. Damatsu suddenly stopped his task and looked straight at him. The intensity of the gaze was unsettling; the teacher's eyes were hidden behind dark shades, obscuring any glimpse of emotion. This only heightened Mr. Damatsu's intimidation factor, making Arkens feel the intensity had surged past a hundred.

"I'll get straight to everything. What you saw last night was real".

The air suddenly became dense and humid, but only for Arkens. When he heard Mr. Damatsu's words, a wave of discomfort washed over him, making it feel like the atmosphere had thickened around him.

"My injuries, as you've already seen, are not from a car accident. I sustained them from my encounter with that stranger".

Arkens's ears perked up, snapping him back to attention as he focused on Mr. Damatsu's voice.

"Stranger? So, you don't know who that was?".

Mr. Damatsu nodded slightly.

"That's right. They attacked me randomly. And I suspect they were waiting for the chance to do it when the day turned to night, and I was alone".

Arkens began to feel a sense of relaxation wash over him. Talking to Mr. Damatsu wasn't as intimidating as he had imagined, and the conversation flowed in an expected way.

"Why? Are you evil? What are you doing here, Mr. Damatsu? What are you exactly?".

Suddenly, a flurry of questions rushed at Mr.Damatsu, each vying for his attention.

"I will answer all inquiries. First, rest assured that I am not someone with unlawful intentions. If you want a classification, I'm a neutral party. And what I'm doing here.. is partially why I wanted to talk to you, too. But I will tell you after I clear most of your suspicions and questions".

Arkens crossed his arms and nodded in response, trying to maintain his composure. It was all nerve-wracking, but relief overcame him as he realized Mr. Damatsu wasn't the killer overlord he had half-fearfully imagined. Instead, the teacher seemed genuinely interested in helping him navigate his questions, which eased some of the tension that had been building inside him.

"Now, you asked what I am, hm? That's fairly easy; I'm a human just like you. With some minor differences".

Arkens raised one eyebrow, and the response absurdity made him chuckle inwardly. He thought, what a funny thing to say, and a smile crept across his face.

"If minor differences mean you can fly in mid-air, move at inhuman speeds, cause crazy winds to pick up, and explosions, then I must know the secret to become a superhuman!-".

Mr. Damatsu raised his hand in defense.

"There's more to it, so allow me to clarify. As you saw, I'm not an ordinary human. To achieve that superhuman capability level, I can channel and use a special energy source all living beings possess within their bodies".

Arkens felt his inner boy jump with excitement at Mr. Damatsu's response. The shift from being stringent and cautious to genuinely intrigued was noticeable. His face relaxed, and a smile broke across his lips as his mouth creaked in awe.

"Special energy source? What is it?".

Mr. Damatsu stepped away from behind the podium, his demeanor shifting as he approached Arkens with a more open posture.

"It's called Sera Energy. Only a select few can access it, like me".

He then pointed at Arkens.

"And now you too".

Arkens's face turned to shock, but this time, it was different. Instead of freaking out or being overwhelmed with terrifying thoughts, he felt a sense of calm wash over him at the revelation.

"I.. I can.. too?".

Mr. Damatsu was clear with that statement, his voice steady and confident.

"That's right. You too can now use Sera Energy. I heard you had a health scare yesterday. Even before that, I had noticed it before entering the school's entrance".

Arkens furrowed his brow, confusion creeping back in.

"W-What do you mean? You knew about my condition?".

Mr. Damatsu did not immediately react to Arkens's confusion; instead, he continued speaking, his tone unwavering.

"Of course, I sensed your Sera Energy fluctuating at an abnormal pace from afar. I deduced you were undergoing a Serawakening".

Mr. Damatsu proceeded with his explanation.

"A Serawakening is the process someone undergoes when reaching a level past that of an average human. Every human has a distinct amount of Sera Energy upon birth. However, no matter the amount, it's never guaranteed someone can go through a Serawakening".

Arkens listened intently, his focus sharpening as Mr. Damatsu spoke. Each word resonated with him, and he found his brain processing the information rapidly.

"Then, what is the trigger for this to occur? If the amount of Sera Energy is a non-factor, how does it happen?".

"It's luck and pain. The chances of someone going through a Serawakening are supremely slim. One out of a million, if I had to say. While there are cases where those who experience drastic hardships can awaken randomly, that's also a rare instance".

"Then what about me? What kind of a Serawakening did I go through?".

Mr. Damatsu paused for a moment, considering Arkens's question.

"I believe you simply got lucky".

"Lucky." The word echoed throughout Arkens's head as he listened more intently to Mr. Damatsu. It struck a chord within him.

"I answered most of your questions, and you should be satisfied. But I haven't responded to your third question, which I held off until now. My reasoning as to why I'm here.. I was hired to keep a particular person safe because of my reputation and strength, who should attend this high school tomorrow".

There was more to this conversation, a deeper layer that differed significantly from Mr. Damatsu's previous explanations and answers.

"Ebihara Arkens, I'm going to be straightforward with you. My battle yesterday wasn't the greatest of outcomes. I have been severely weakened, and my "broken arm" is inoperable for the foreseeable future. I can't use more than one percent of my power.. The stranger has sealed my powers completely to the point where I am a defenseless cripple..".

As Arkens listened, the memories of the first time he encountered Mr. Damatsu and the stranger came rushing back. The events of their fight and everything that transpired flashed vividly before his eyes, as did the intensity of the battle and the strength of his teacher he had felt. The gravity of Mr. Damatsu's words weighed heavily on him, dragging him down into a contemplative state.

"What.. are you trying to say?".

"I can't fight anymore. And I know it is sudden for me to ask you, someone, who just discovered another world you never knew existed until now, but I ask if you can lend me your strength and help me protect the person I can't".

Arkens was left speechless, his jaw-dropping in stunned silence. His body turned pale, and beads of sweat began to trickle down his forehead, a physical manifestation of the overwhelming thoughts racing through his mind.

Despite the imposing aura surrounding Mr. Damatsu, the large frame, deep voice, and striking appearance, the teacher bowed slightly before him.

"Ebihara Arkens, I plead, help me protect the girl named Target!".