The tense air between them seemed to settle as Target suddenly shoved the paper against Arkens' chest. He instinctively grabbed it, still trying to process everything. Glancing down, he unfolded the paper and skimmed its contents. His eyes widened slightly in surprise as he realized what was written.
"Hmm.. That's a little surprising. From what I'm seeing, it looks like we're pretty much together throughout the day-".
Target, still flustered, took a deep breath in an attempt to regain her composure. Her heart was still racing, but she focused on steadying herself. As she did, she caught Arkens' words, her ears perking up.
"Is that so? I didn't think we would be stuck together like this. I'm a little disappointed to hear that, but what can you do? It's fate".
Arkens' expression shifted, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked at Target, clearly offended by what she had said.
"Uh huh.. I didn't know being with me was that much of a hassle for you pint-sized dwarf-".
Target clicked her teeth in frustration, her expression sharp as she glared toward Arkens. Her eyes narrowed, clearly irritated.
"Ya so lucky we've gotta get to class; otherwise, I would knock your ugly mug to the dirty glossy floor and crush your tiny balls!".
Arkens scoffed, his aggravation giving way to a smug expression. His lips curled into a smirk as he raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the reaction he'd gotten from Target.
"So you do have restraint- Who would've guessed with your shit attitude and barking I hear early in the morning".
As they made their way to class, Arkens and Target continued to argue, their bickering growing louder and more heated with each step. The door slid open, and they burst into the room, slinging vulgar language at one another, utterly oblivious to their surroundings. The classroom was already filled with students, most of whom were seated, while the teacher stood at the front, watching in silence as the two fought their way toward the only two empty seats right next to each other.
The moment they stepped inside, Arkens and Target felt the weight of dozens of eyes on them, the entire room fixated on their entrance. The teacher, who had been in the middle of roll call, paused, clearly unimpressed by the interruption. Embarrassment hit them both like a jolt of lightning striking a metal rod. Their faces flushed red as they suddenly realized the spectacle they'd created. Without another word, they quickly turned away, sitting silently, their previous outbursts replaced by quiet, reddened shame.
"Well. That's one way to start our mathematics class. I will now finish rollcall as Ebihara arrived with a new guest on his way here. Thank you, Mr. Ebihara!".
Arkens' body shivered slightly, feeling the weight of the teacher's displeasure over their childish antics. He could almost sense how unimpressed the teacher was. Meanwhile, Target seemed to brush it off, already preparing for what came next. A few students turned in their seats to face her, eager to drum up conversation. Two girls and a guy started talking to her in unison, all drawn to her as if she had a natural magnetism. Arkens couldn't help but notice how much attention she commanded, a twinge of jealousy creeping up on him, though he kept it buried deep inside and eventually lost interest.
The class resumed, and time moved forward. The teacher handed out a few problems to work on before the period ended. The room grew quiet, the only sound being the rhythmic scribbling of pencils on paper. Arkens focused on his work and diligently tackled the problems before him. But something felt off. Pausing mid-sentence, he shifted his eyes to the side, scanning his surroundings.
That's when he noticed the abnormality. Target was much closer than usual. Her presence, only inches away, was unmistakable.
Arkens ignored it, not wanting to stir up another argument with Target. Yet, as soon as he refocused on the paper before him, he caught a glimpse of her desk inching closer. His brow furrowed, and his mouth hung open slightly in disbelief. Surely, I'm imagining this, he thought, trying to brush it off.
But when it happened again, his attention snapped back to her. Now entirely focused, he watched her closely, but Target made no suspicious movements, no indication that she was purposely moving closer. She seemed wholly focused on her work, giving no hint that she even noticed the desk's shifting position.
Arkens leaned in slightly and whispered under his breath.
"Dwarf.. I can see that you're getting close- You think I can't catch that? You're so obvious".
Target slowly turned to face Arkens, her expression wholly neutral and blank, giving nothing away. She tilted slightly at his whispered question, clearly confused by his words. After a moment of silence, she responded hushedly, matching his whisper.
"Blashapemy~ I wonder what might you be insinuating here, kind sir?".
Arkens felt a wave of confusion wash over him as he studied Target's expression and tone. Her neutral face and calm response left him puzzled, as if she had no idea what he was talking about. He had expected playful teasing or an obvious reaction, but instead, she seemed oblivious. Her behavior left him unsure whether he had imagined the whole thing or if she was playing an elaborate game.
"Huh?? I can plain as day see your ass getting closer; I've caught you twice".
"You must be hallucinating; why would I need to get closer to you? What will I possibly gain?".
"I don't know pompous genius, my answers??".
Target suddenly burst into silent laughter, her body shaking as she threw herself around in her chair, gripping the desk to keep her balance. Real tears formed in the corners of her eyes, but not a sound escaped her lips as she struggled to contain herself. Arkens watched, bewildered by the sudden shift in her behavior. After a brief moment, she finally stopped, wiping away the tears from her eyes with a satisfied smile as if she had just heard the funniest joke no one else could understand.
"You honestly believe I need your low level of intellect to breeze through these subpar questions on child-level mathematics???".
"I pity you for even struggling, Mr. I can't get past the third question!".
Arkens stared in shock as his notebook, which had mysteriously disappeared, was suddenly tossed back to him. His eyes widened as he watched Target, who was now slowly sliding her seat back to its original spot, moving in a deliberate, almost exaggerated slow motion. A triumphant smile spread across her face, filled with satisfaction at her victory.
She rested her cheek in the palm of her hand, still wearing that smug expression, and silently mouthed the words:
"I can be your tutor~".
Arkens stared back at Target in disgust, his mind racing. Was all of this to tease him? To humiliate him in front of everyone? His thoughts swirled, piecing together the situation. She had found a weakness and toyed with him, especially on a subject she now knew he struggled with. But before he could dwell on it further, the bell rang, signaling the end of the class.
With the sound, a new sense of competition emerged between them. As students shuffled in and out, the following class history began. Arkens and Target once again found themselves seated side by side. But this time, Arkens felt the spark of determination. History was his domain, a subject he felt confident in. This was his chance to flip the tables and battle for dominance. He wouldn't let her win so easily this time.
"Okay, now does anyone know the date and special name given to this special historical event? We covered this yesterday, kids; I'm sure one of you remembers".
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Arkens smirked, feeling a surge of confidence as he stood up from his seat. With pride in his posture and a glint in his eye, he confidently stated his answer.
"Ahhh!- So close yet so far, Ebihara, you're on the right track, however".
"I-I was wrong?-".
Target stood up shortly after Arkens, confidently giving her answer. She smiled sweetly, the elegance in her posture unmistakable, and turned to face Arkens.
"Oooh, impressive, Ms. Rakuma. That's correct! It's shocking to see someone who just arrived today seem more knowledgeable than everyone here. And must I repeat myself, we covered this yesterday?".
Arkens balled his hands into fists, feeling the sting of defeat as he sat down. The rest of the class felt like a constant back-and-forth battle between him and Target, with each academic attempt leaving him one step behind. She always came out on top, no matter how hard he tried, and frustration gnawed at him.
But now, with gym class rolling around, Arkens felt renewed confidence. This was his territory. Everyone had changed into their gym clothes, including Target, who instantly caught the attention of every guy in the room, eager to see her in action.
Standing beside Arkens, Watsu noticed the intense fire in his friend's eyes. Watsu recognized the shift in Arkens' behavior.
"Arkens? What's up with you suddenly? Are you excited to get physical? That's new".
Arkens began rolling his arm around, loosening up with a confident smirk. Ignoring Watsu's comments, his focus remained on Target, his rival. This was his chance to redeem himself.
The instructor cleared her throat, gathering everyone's attention as she calmly explained the day's activity, her voice steady and composed. Arkens, barely listening, kept his eyes on Target, mentally preparing for whatever challenges lay ahead. He was ready to prove himself.
"We're going to play a quick game of dodgeball. Only for half of today's class time. The board wants to test the waters with dodgeball again and get it approved for further physical education use".
The teams were divided evenly. Target and Watsu found themselves on the same side, alongside a few other classmates, while Arkens stood at the opposite end with his team. In the center, six dodgeballs lay in a neat line, the calm before the storm. Arkens crouched low, muscles tense and ready to act at the whistle's sound.
As the teacher blew her whistle, signaling the start of the match, chaos erupted. Balls flew across the gym in a blur of speed and shouts, players dodging and throwing with everything they had. The intensity of the game escalated quickly, and one by one, players were eliminated until only two remained.
The final warriors stood on the battlefield, locked in a silent duel. Target stood confidently, her posture calm, with her hands behind her back, casually gripping a ball in one hand. Arkens, drenched in sweat, stood hunched over with a ball clutched tightly in his hand, legs spread in a low, defensive stance. His heart raced, eyes locked onto Target as they sized each other up, the gym growing quiet in anticipation of their next move.
"Arkens~ You look quite tired there. Don't you think you should give up? We've been exchanging blow to blow, and nothing seems to be going anywhere.. Then again, I will admit, I'm not trying".
"Tch! Why does my body feel so sluggish and heavy? I shouldn't be this tired from dodgeball!-".
Watsu had been watching them the entire match, intentionally allowing himself to be eliminated early so he could observe from the sidelines. It was strange how winded Arkens seemed from a simple game of dodgeball and even stranger how much he and Target interacted despite this being her first day at school. Their dynamic felt off, and Watsu couldn't shake it.
He briefly took his eyes off them, but the sudden sound of a ball hitting someone snapped his attention back. His gaze returned to the court just in time to see Arkens take a direct hit to the chest. The impact sent him flying backward, crashing onto his back with a thud. The ball bounced away, rolling a few feet before stopping near the center of the gym.
The room erupted into loud cheers and excited chatter, the sound bouncing off the gymnasium's walls. Among the celebrating students, Target calmly made her way over to Arkens. Standing over him, she looked down smugly, her lips curling into a playful giggle as people gathered around, praising her victory. Arkens stared at her in disbelief on the floor while the crowd buzzed around them.
"You've got to be kidding me.. I lost again? At a simple game of dodgeball too?".
Watsu made his way over to Arkens, offering his hand with a friendly smile. Arkens, still a bit shaken from the hit, weakly grasped Watsu's hand and used it to pull himself back onto his feet. He dusted himself off.
"Thanks, Watsu.. I must be getting old if I'm losing to someone in dodgeball".
Watsu couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The way Target performed during the match didn't sit right with him. She was incredible, far more athletic than her petite appearance suggested, and it didn't go unnoticed. Watsu could tell from experience—her movements were precise, skilled, and almost too natural. But what bothered him most was how easily she had bested Arkens.
He knew his friends well, especially regarding their physical abilities. Regarding athleticism, only Arkens, himself, and one other individual should have been able to compete at that level. Yet here was Target, a girl half the size of most in the class, going toe-to-toe with Arkens as if it were nothing. There was something out of place here, something Watsu couldn't quite put his finger on.
Time marched forward, though, and soon enough, gym class came to a close. With it, the school day ended, and students began to pack up and head home, though Watsu's mind still lingered on the day's strange events.
Watsu had planned to continue spying on Arkens and Target, eager to uncover more about their strange connection. But unfortunately, personal matters called him away, forcing him to leave earlier than usual.
Meanwhile, Arkens and Target found themselves walking in the same direction, though anyone watching wouldn't have thought they were together. They kept a noticeable distance between them, silently walking, each lost in their thoughts.
"So what, you're living this way too? Then again, Mr. Damatsu didn't give the exact details of your arrangements".
"It seems that way..".
Target gripped the handle of her bag tightly with both hands, deliberately keeping her distance from Arkens as they walked. She maintained a steady pace, subtly moving further away from him with each step. Arkens, sensing something, glanced back over his shoulder and noticed the growing gap between them. The silence between them stretched on for a few minutes, filled only by the quiet sounds of their footsteps.
The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden light across their path, though the shadows of nearby buildings occasionally dimmed the street. The moment felt serene, almost peaceful. Then, without warning, Target stopped, her gaze fixed ahead. Arkens kept walking, unaware of her pause. She stood still momentarily, breathing deeply before exhaling as if trying to collect her thoughts or summon the courage to speak.
"You don't have to protect me!".
Arkens came to a sudden stop; his back still turned to her. Slowly, he turned around to face her, the weight of her words hanging between them.
"You're not obligated to keep me safe.. No one's going to make fun of you if you don't!".
Her grip tightened on the handle of her bag, her knuckles turning white as she stood there. There was a distance between them that felt far more than physical.
"I'll be fine, so just think about yourself-.. I can handle my own safety!".
Arkens sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly torn. He shook his head, looking at her with frustration and understanding.
"You're right. I'm not forced to do anything".
"Then!-".
His voice was calm, but with a hint of resolve, he cut her off.
"If you think I'm going just to sit back and do nothing while your life, my family, my friends, and thousands of innocent people are at risk, then you must be stupid".
His words caught her off guard, and she instinctively stepped back.
"I don't get it... Why risk everything for something so trivial? Why would you throw yours away for my life and the lives of people who don't even matter to you? Shouldn't the lives of the people closest to you be the only ones that matter?".
He took a step closer.
"So what? You're trying to tell me to only think about myself? That I shouldn't feel like I have a responsibility? News flash, this isn't just something I have to do. It's something I want to do".
Target stepped back once more.
"Why? Why throw away a peaceful life for someone you barely even know? We don't even get along, in case you haven't noticed!".
Arkens moved his foot forward.
"And? So what? I don't take things personally. You've beaten me plenty of times, but that doesn't mean I hate you. We've thrown jabs at each other, sure, but that doesn't mean I dislike you".
She took a step back.
"Whatever! You know there's a real chance you could die, right? You'll suffer just because I'm here... because I was told to be here".
He took a few steps ahead, gaining ground.
"It's not your fault, and it never will be. No one has the right to put that on you, not me, not anyone".
"Because of me, your life will never be normal again... You can kiss normalcy goodbye! Is that not getting through your thick skull?! How can you not hate me for that?!".
He moved ahead, getting closer with each movement.
"I don't hate you. I never did. I know what you're going through, and maybe I'm a little stubborn, but I'd rather carry that weight for everyone. I'll fight, not just for myself, but for every innocent person in this town who doesn't even know the danger that's out there... and for you, so you never have to feel unsafe. Not while I'm around".
Arkens finally got close enough to Target, who became unresponsive and looked to the dark ground made from the overarching shadows.
"I don't know what made you think you could convince me to leave you unprotected, but nice try. I'm not going anywhere, and I'm sure as hell not letting you die. So, get this through your tiny, dwarf-sized brain: as long as I'm around, you don't have to be afraid. I'll protect you, no matter what it takes".
Arkens smiled, stuffing his hands into his pockets as the last rays of the setting sun broke through the shadows around them. He heard the soft sound of sniffling, and his expression softened when he saw the tears falling onto the pavement. Target's face flushed red, her eyes filled with warm tears as her quiet cries grew louder.
"I don't know why you're crying, but I've got bigger things to worry about, like you and the thousands of others out there. So, wipe those tears, Target. I'm going to get stronger so that you won't cry anymore..".