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Denpasar, Capital of Bali

The city of thousand of temples retained from the prehistoric until the present day era, many tourists are enjoying their holidays and stays in Denpasar because of lifestyle and arts in the island in Indonesia. Kuta Beach is one of the best location for tourism and attracts the tourists from the locals, and everyone on all ages are allowed to enjoy the white sand beach with clear water while having a sunbath or swimming in the sea. There is also a wide range of souvenir shops that sold local arts like batik and pottery, as well as traditional foods and drinks. The nightlife is also a great attraction among the young people who like to have parties or clubs where they can dance or sing with their friends while having drinks. They will gather at bars, pubs, restaurants and karaoke lounges--while the daytime is only to relax and enjoy themselves on beach or poolside.

Not only that, the city is supervised by Singgahsana, an Indonesian governmental organization in the New World that keeps the existence of Phantom Beasts away from humanity during the Phantom Eruption, under the supervision of Nirvana Organization around the world and World Government, which governs almost every corner of every continent since the Great War.

Kayana Sahanaya Tirta or known as Kohaku; the twenty-one years old Indonesian fellow and a master's degree student in Warmadewata University was strolling down the street in the morning when he observed them. He has a dark auburn slightly messy short hair with bangs almost covering both of his magenta-brown eyes, pale complexion with a lean and muscular but tall built. Wearing a white collared shirt and black pants with the dark blue boots with white and light blue splashes, he also wears a dark blue military rider jacket and a non-prescription glasses--carrying his black backpack strapped on his shoulder.

Kohaku is a tough and serious who always doing his best for studies or works and diligently executes his tasks, and most of his lecturers and lab assistant love him and believe he is the most perfect student when comes to his research and analytical thinking skills. However, he has terrible temper when someone ticks him off--which led him to curse when he snapped out, unable to control his words as he speaks what on his mind. Kohaku does not believe in the existence of Phantom Beasts, due to his realistic view--despite the history that repeats itself on his life about several years ago when he was still a high school student.

"Pfft... people these days..."

Kohaku grumbled when let out a deep sigh, looking around for some iced drinks. "Let's see if there's anything refreshing for this sunny days…" he thought, walking towards the street vendors selling cold drinks--he paid the drink as he was drinking an iced lemon tea. While he's heading into the pond of the park, Kohaku was look around for a moment before he observe the water of the pond. 'Phantom Beasts… do they exist?' he thought, contemplating with their existence from what he learned about them in the book.

He has heard rumors that their existence in other places, but never have seen any physical evidence on them except for stories told by the natives in other countries. But then again, there's not much information about their existence in Indonesia. Kohaku was born in Semarang, City in Central Java, he was described as a "bad boy with a heart of gold" by his relatives and friends as he has a temper--but does care and show consideration when necessary despite his cold demeanor. Even though he tends to be a loner, his intelligence has made him a popular person in Semarang--even though he wasn't used on people at the same age of his.

Kohaku paused when one of the foreign tourists bumped into him without saying sorry, his defense mechanism went feral as he noticed that the foreigner was talking with native Bali woman just near the hotel in Bukit near his family mansion. His frown deepened before letting out an annoyed deep sigh, and decided to ignore the tourist in front of him. Until, this tourist spoke. "You know, these people could be cursed in some weird religion in here--"

Kohaku turn around and kicked the tourist with his karate kick without even hesitating. "Asshole!" he snarled in fluent English, before Kohaku began to intimidate him. "Learn your own respect with the culture and religion here, how dare you speaking nonsense shit! I bet your blood isn't even the same color like these people here! What are you, a 'ruler' in here?!" Kohaku snapped, before the tourist shrieked and ran away from him--causing laughter among the passerby. "Good riddance..." he scoffed, shaking his head and going back to what he's been doing.

'Perhaps they're only a stories created by the local as a way to scare little kids in their culture.'

He thought, before he headed back to the university campus and carrying his bag over his shoulder. "Kayana, what's up?" one of his classmates greeted as he high-fived with him, he did that in return when he folded his arms. "I'm fine, just feeling hot today so I grab a drink before I came here."

Kohaku folded his arms after he said that, keeping his both laidback and cool expression retained on his face. "Cool, also there will be an international student in our class tomorrow, is that right?" Made asked with a grin, Kohaku nodded when he take out both of his laptop and phone off his backpack. "He came from Japan to stay with his younger sister, both of them are transfer students for scholarships and her sister is a high school student in Batara Island School. You know, international school."

Kohaku snorted, not giving a single fuck about the information about the brother-sister tandem transferring to study here. Like, who asked him?

"Huh... not my business at all," he replied, typing on his laptop and doing a random coursework given by his lecturer. "Besides, studying in several places around the world has taken years to complete… unless this boy's studying for a Doctorate degree like me. Also, what the fuck is a Phantom Raiders? Are they like hunters against the Phantom Beasts or something?" Kohaku asked, he was super skeptical about these rumors and just doesn't give a damn about them. But then, Made and other classmates of his keep spamming their chat group. Kohaku grew frustrated about the sheer fact that he feels being messaged more than a thousand times or replies were flooding. "Eh, let's talk about that later, if you know Garuda University--they're the ones who trained and employed these hunters."

Kohaku frowned before he informed the group chat through his magenta-colored flip cellphone with lotus keychain straps, announcing the group that there will be no class and they have a transfer student from Japan. "Alright, now where is the student…" he checked his chat messages from his friends and lecturers, he was surprised by his supervisor's new message. "Christ Almighty… you scared me," he sighed in relief before he click the message, she was also their lecturer in Thermodynamics.

Mrs. Ida Ayu Puspa Kencana: "Good morning Kayana. Can you add the new transfer student's number into your group? This is his number and please save it first before you can add him, also he's already registered in a student dashboard so no need to worry about him."

Kayana Tirta: "Alright Ma'am, I'll add him."

Kohaku saved the phone number and adding him into his contacts, before he could add him--he noticed his name is already on the contact name. "Ah fuck, it's in Japanese characters, damn it!" he cursed quietly when he checked his number to confirm the message sent successfully, so he saved the number and his language to phone number before he check it again. Kohaku was then amazed at how elegantly it written the name, then again it was still confusing him a little. 'Let's translate this...' he thought, reading the characters since he learned Japanese when he just got in college--it took him five minutes to read the characters. "Uhh... Shinobu... Byakuya?" he muttered. Yup, that's his name before he changed the name.

After that, Kohaku wondered if the international student is still adjusting to environment in Bali and the campus, usually some of the students in master's degree doesn't have to be on same age like them either younger or older. "I'm going to the lab to pick up some things left behind, let them know when the others got back," he told the others, they nodded as they began to wait for him.

Kohaku was heading into the lab room where he was going to get his reports, mostly the folders of his works about his research. As he had the key to the room because class captains must have one, they were responsible to keep the spare keys for them and for those who want to enter the classroom must borrow the keys from them. Unlocking it with ease, he slide the door open and look around before turning on light the switch--and closed the door behind him with his key inside his pockets.

Kohaku opened the cover to search for his scientific research literature, while he need to make sure none of them went missing. 'Where the hell is my scientific literature about Yakshas and Herukas…? With the background about the Phantom Eruptions?' he thought, knitting his eyebrows together until his pupils sharpened a little. His vision catch the sight of the familiar title, his pupils went back to normal when he grabbed the literature book of proposal. "There it is," he said until he stopped when he think about it, how did he find it with ease? However, he decided to forget it when he was about to close his folder.

"Well well well, what are you doing here?"

Kohaku jumped a little that he was nearly startled by the guest in front of him, he look back at him who stood in front of him. For some reason, one of them made him shiver a little. That can't be… he realized that something made him believe he's familiar, the guest that he encountered is a senior scientist and lecturer in this campus.

The professor has a tall figure, his skin color is pale and his hair is black, almost a silver-white color--he has pale complexion. His facial features looks slim and sharp, giving a different impression compared to his lean and muscular body structure. He wore a formal suit which looked too expensive for his appearance, yet he appears to be an ordinary man while wearing a lab coat. He was holding a half full bottle of mineral water, standing in front of him. The professor was wearing a frameless glasses, he appears to be around his mid-thirties and quite youthful--he also looked foreign.

When Kohaku look at the ID card attached on his chest pocket, it was that infamous lecturer known as Hokuri Deinukai--the asshat American professor from San Francisco who also known for his strict and high expectations from the students, he's the most scariest professor that the students feared the most out of others. Many students were scared to sit in his class or becoming his class captain, many rumors were spread and believed that he dislikes incompetence and lateness. However, Kohaku has learned not to judge someone by first impressions as he believe on what the guests doing is their business--his mind suddenly began to think what the fuck they were doing in the university campus. Kohaku was staring at the professor for a moment, not knowing what to do or say. So suddenly, the professor is here in the lab room? Why he's here? What does he wants?

"Are you a junior or something?"

Kohaku could only nod his head, answering his question without hesitation. "Yes, I'm a second-year master degree's student, studying Biotechnology Engineering. My name is Kayana Sahanaya Tirta, nice to meet you--" he shrieked when the professor smirked and walked closer to him, almost intimidating him. "I'm the lecturer, I'm also in charge of assisting international program with your Head of Study Program and the Dean of Faculty of Biotechnology and Engineering," he explained.

His eyes widened that he watched him gazing down at him, before the professor folded his arms and leaned back after reading his ID card on the lab coat. "Professor Hokuri Deinukai, lecturer from Harvard University contracted to Warmadewata University for research and lecture. I've done Bachelor of Engineering in Monash University of Australia, Master of Science in Stanford University of USA, and EngD in Harvard University, USA. I was hoping I could read your proposal as you are working in my lab."

Oh great, here we go with flaunting shit about his achievements and learning in an international university but just his luck. Kohaku take a deep breath, not intimidated by his actions and words anymore before giving him a business like smile. "Fine sir, take a look if you would like. Though, I wouldn't mind if you're not here because this is not your business," he spoke calmly, without hesitation as there's no doubt about him.

The professor's smirk lingering on his lips after he answered his question, somewhat finding him interesting even his attitude. "Sooner enough, you will becoming someone I found interesting, Kohaku," he patted his shoulder that made him jumped a bit, before his hand moved into holding his neck--almost strangling him. "I might have a project for you," he whispered to him, the urge to step back grew stronger. "If you're interested then you must sign a contract with me, Kohaku, I'm offering you a job to be my lab assistant."

... Huh?

Kohaku stood there like a fucking idiot, trying to process of what happened. When did he look at him in curiosity in his eyes? Right now the only option he had, was to politely declined. "Thank you for the offer, but I prefer having my work done."

Professor Hokuri huffed, before he responded. "That's fine, you can start right away. You should get a job at this age, right?"

Great, how the fuck did he know that Kohaku is unemployed? He can sense that he is unemployed! He knows that he needs money to earn, and it would be useful for him in case of he has low savings and incomes from his freelance jobs.Even though his father is a Head of Department in Bali, after he got promoted in government service--Kohaku didn't want to disappoint him. "Uhm... I will think about it," he muttered.

Professor Hokuri narrowed his eyes, before he handed the lab assistant ID card at him. "It doesn't matter, you're taking this now. You can go home if you want and take a rest, tomorrow is your assignment," he waved his hand in dismissive before Kohaku was tempted to throw a swear word into him, but instead he remained standing and speechless after that--until his classmates came in. "Woah! What happened to you man?" Kohaku starts to ramble while clenching his teeth, before he walk out from the lab and merely giving a middle finger gesture to his friends before closing the door.

... Fuck you, Professor Deinukai.

***

Kohaku received a schedule from Professor Hokuri through his student email, he literally had no goddamn idea because he just began to pursue his studies here in Bali. More worse, he had to work as a lab assistant just for work experience and shit. "Fuuuuu… I'll become Professor Hokuri's assistant, according to him; there are a lot of works for me to process and many papers to fill them up with, including journals, publications, and reports in the research--FUCK THAT'S TOO MUCH WORK TO DO ON!" he exclaimed in irritation, putting his water bottle back into the fridge.

He didn't really want to scream and being irrational, but having to do this is too much stress and it will gonna be hell working on it. "At least he told me to assist his lectures to international class in bachelor's degree..." he added, before he check the schedule. Professor Hokuri taught Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Genetics and Biomathematics that made him goes nuts--

"Can't imagine dealing with Professor Hokuri's classes... here I am, becoming a lab assistant who also an underdog student who manage the lab too like shit," he sighed, before deciding to inform him. He saw a "bonus class" which is about Phantom Beast...? Oh right, Kohaku also find out Professor Hokuri also working as a Deputy Director of Trilaksana Organization; it was the paramilitary-research organization sanctioned by United Nations--while the main operating Headquarters are in Bali and Jakarta, focusing on research about Phantom Beasts and exterminating criminals who are involved with experiments of Phantom Beasts, regarding them as a threat to humanity and put dangers to the global worldwide.

Kohaku thought this was interesting, he wanted to know more about Phantom Beasts, because the professors of his university doesn't really give any information about them. He wants to know more about the legend of the Phantom Beasts, like the story behind the Phantom Beast's existence, the reason why they attacked the global cities and villages, and who are the first Phantom Beasts that appeared in the world.

Kohaku was inside the lab room while he watched the bachelor's degree students came inside, Professor Hokuri was waiting attentively--his eyes behind his spectacles observe the students like a hawk. The first class is Thermodynamics, he checked his time from his phone before Professor Hokuri stood on the podium and use his clip-on that clipped on his collars--Kohaku watched his lecturer grabbed a pointer (why he still have that, it seems like he loved teaching physical sciences) and pointing out to the class.

"Welcome to the first semester class of the international bachelor's degree students here, I believe all of you will enjoy learning and experiencing some new things from this class," Professor Hokuri stated before he stared at Kohaku, his eyes tells him that 'go to the next slide for visuals or I will kill you here', Kohaku simply nodded and immediately moved his fingers typing the slides and clicked on the "view a sneak peak" button to project the presentation on the big screen. "First of all, my name is Professor Hokuri Deinukai, since this is our first meeting. I will be introducing myself with my biography and my experiences."

Kohaku typed on the keyboard, revealing a slide that shows his CV and personal profile to the students, the lecture starts to explaining. "In short, my name is Hokuri Deinukai and I'm thirty-three years old as you can see my ID. I was born and raised in California, United States. My father is Japanese and my mother is Chinese, I have three younger siblings but I'm not telling their names because I know you students will search me online--"

Here we go again with his lecturer lecturing his CV and experiences, honestly he nearly fell asleep if it wasn't for the important subject he needs to study as part of his Master's degree graduation requirements. All of the students nodded while the senior and junior undergraduate students nodded, he asked them if they were able to understand English. Some of them nodded in affirmation. Kohaku was still listening to the speech with a small yawn, deciding to listen attentively while he decided to look back at the lecturer. In his mind, he knew that Professor Hokuri somehow planned his future--considering he seems to be proud and confident while flaunting his achievements. But his attitude? Fuck, he doesn't even have time to deal with that arrogant attitude but being an assistant working under a colleague.

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Kohaku was doing the tasks assigned by Professor Hokuri, and when the lecture ended, he was exhausted. He went straight back to the room that was assigned to him, when he reached there, he found Professor Hokuri sitting on the chair, reading some documents. He looked at the professor, who was wearing a white lab coat, with a black tie around his collars of his formal clothes.

"Um, Professor? Can I help you with something?" Kohaku asked.

Professor Hokuri looked at him, and he gave a tired smile. "I was reading some reports, but I need help to finish them up..." He handed Kohaku the documents, which contained the information written on them in English. "You know how to read and write in English right?" Kohaku nodded at him, it's true that Kohaku is excelled in English whether it's passive or active. "Okay then, here are the documents," he handed Kohaku the documents. "Just make sure to translate everything into Bahasa Indonesia."

"Understood sir," Kohaku saluted him, then he sat down beside the table, and began to read the documents. His face went pale, he didn't expect some of the words in the documents to be so complicated, but he tried to continue reading them.Kohaku would assist him if they don't get the answer right, helping Professor Hokuri whenever he needs it.

Every single day after that, they went to Professor Hokuri's office, where he received a briefing about his job and what he must do every time he comes here. Kohaku learned a lot of things from him--things about the Phantom Beasts, about their classified information, and the research that they did. He noticed that Professor Hokuri is interested with the Phantom Beasts, but he never show it on his face, he was calm and collected.

***

Kohaku yawned when he has arrived in front the supermarket known as Fresh Gallery, he was about to grab the trolley until he heard a loud inhumane growl. What was that? Kohaku turn around to look for the source of the sound, no one was there and he started to get cautious. However, he decided to forget it and grabbing the trolley at the front of the entrance, not wanting to be distracted by many things. As he take out the note for the ingredients and for his household, he went inside with ease while reading the note. "Alright, what do we have here…?"

Kohaku boredly staring at the notes while walking with strolling the trolley, he decided to went along with the note and preferences with his own. As he finished with shopping groceries, he was carrying paper bags while heading out from the supermarket and heading back to his car. Placing them inside the backseat after opening the car door, he closed them and sensed a threatening presence behind him. "You better come out and show yourself."

Kohaku turn around with his martial arts skills, he defensively reacted with his eyes witnessed something that was surreal; a Phantom Beast. As he was shocked to see the beast charging at him, he stepped back in horror and shock at how he witnessed the black shadowy creature that looked monstrous and beastly-like before his eyes--this is the first time he felt a fear... and now he began to doubt himself, he believed in them now.

"I must say, I acknowledge your existence, but…"

Kohaku suddenly fell back down because of unknown forces, seeing a tall young fellow hopped over the bushes behind him and he landed with ease. As he take out his katana from his sheath, he goes to slay the beast with his blade across the throat and performed several cuts on the beast. It made him shocked by what he did, and he watched the beast wreathed in pain while attempting to stand up before him. "H-How did you…?"

He has a purplish-black short messy hair with bangs swept messily to the side, almost framing his forehead falling almost to his cheeks, a light violet sharp eyes and fair complexion.black formal shirt and purple tie underneath his white vest, white blazer and white pants with black shoes and matching gloves. As he dons a dark purple handkerchief on the chest pocket of the white blazer, holding his black flip cellphone with pink cherry blossom keychain and accepted the message--he wears a frameless glasses on his eyes. "Phantom Beast, type Emperor-Class; Ganesha," he said, opening the flip of his cellphone and commanded. "Demon Cloud."

Demon Cloud; the female sword-wielding phantom materialized behind him, holding a katana on her hand looming over the beast's presence. Wearing a kimono with the white colored furisode and black clouds, green plants with the golden roots. The multi-textile obi tied and her kimono rests pasts her shoulders, having an obi tied in the front of her kimono. Having a silverish-white long hair tied in the full ponytail with three kanzashi hairpins, black-purple-red ribbons that almost similar to courtesan and front bangs pinned back by black hair clip. Other accessories are the flower hairpin, rope-like necklace with a tassel around her neck, and black mask on her head painted to resemble fox masks with the colors of red, yellow and purple with showing the golden eyes.

The female phantom slained the beast in speed and performed thousand cuts, he's quick-witted and flexible even has kept his calm expression despite the blood stained his cheeks when the phantom finally killed it. Kohaku watched the beast has vanished by the mist of the phantom, along the blood on his cheeks and he also had one disappeared from his fabric clothings. "T-Thank you…" he thanked him when he tried to stand up, he couldn't believe that he had that kind of ability from him. "But how… how did you do… that? Who are you?"

The mysterious fellow didn't respond to him, nor if he showed his expression after he found out about that. As he adjusted his glasses with his finger, before he closed his flip cellphone and putting it back inside his uniform. After that he sheathed his katana, unfazed with the after effects from the beast's death--he glanced over his shoulder for a moment before looking forward again. The female phantom engulfed him and both of them dematerializes, earning a shudder when he witnessed them disappeared into thin air without traces. What was that…?

Kohaku decided to brush it off for today, before he goes back to the car so he can go back home real quick.

***

Kohaku had a difficult time comprehending what's going on last night which is even more complicated, questioning about that mysterious man and when he did he just too confused. The next day in the campus was normal but he remembered that they had a new student from Japan, and he had to make sure the student wasn't having a hard time adjusting and adapting in this life. That experience was the evidence that there's still remnants of Phantom Beasts, and last night was so strange, he felt like there's a shadow following him all the time.

"Good morning students!"

The students greeted their supervisor when they were sitting on their seats, she was excited just like what she scheduled and she announced them. "Today we'll be having a new student, just as Kayana announced he has arrived today!" she said with a smile and stared at Kohaku who merely gave a small wave, looking at the door that was behind the seats of the students.

The door opened to reveal the familiar figure that Kohaku met last night, that alone made him stunned with shock. The young man is the same person he met last night, he appears to be cold and composed while unbothered. Wearing civilian attire consists of white collared shirt, a dark blue jeans tucked into brown boots and black sweater over his shirt--he also carries similar flip cellphone with keychain. With a similar his rectangular frameless glasses from yesterday, he was carrying a black strapped backpack and grabbed the marker to write kanji of his name on the whiteboard.

After he finished writing, he turn around and introduced himself with a bow at them. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Shinobu Byakuya, I am twenty one years old, I'm an undergraduate student from Ichimonnji University in Himeji, Japan and will continue my master's degree in this Udayana Warmadewata University here in Bali, Indonesia--nice to meet you."

Huh? HUH?!

Kohaku stood there while the students applauded after the introduction, while he was listening to him. He's the guy who saved me! He's even one of our students, making him take off his glasses and rub his eyes--as if he was just dreaming but in reality he's not. "Kayana. As a class monitor, it's your duty to keep an eye on him," the lecturer spoke to Kohaku, before he nodded.

"U-Understood, ma'am…"

Kohaku's face still pale when he was told to keep an eye on him, he couldn't believe he just saved his number though not meeting him… yet. Byakuya blinked when he look back at him, slightly wide-eyed before he pretend he didn't know him. Kohaku watched the new student sitting down next to him, placing his bag on the table. 'There he is, he was so cold but how do I handle him…? Okay that's enough, you're judging him too much...'

Byakuya ignored them when he adjusted his glasses, retaining both a cold and composed demeanor like a noble. Taking out the tablet with a pen, laptop and notebook, he seems to be focused with the lesson rather than anyone else. The lesson reached ten in the morning that they will have another one until two. When Kohaku was putting his laptop inside his bag, Byakuya approached him with a somewhat calmer manner. Honestly, Kohaku want to shit bricks after he saw him yesterday, he's freaked out and intimidated.

"Hey you, Kayana isn't it?"

Kohaku heard Byakuya asked him, until the tone he used brought him like he spoke with venom. 'Fucking bitch, I don't remember someone called me by my full name--besides my classmates, god give me a mercy from him!' he mentally yelled, turning around when he tried to shrug him off with a casual smile. "My name is Kayana Sahanaya Tirta, people call me Kayana--but in this campus they call me Kohaku," he began his introduction.

Byakuya still unfazed when he crossed his arms, the other students has left their seats. "What do you want?" he asked, since he wanted to end this conversation or he's gonna cry because of the stupid name he given him earlier. 'So, this is the foreign student from Japan that I added a contact last week?' Kohaku thought.

This time he felt awkward, right after what happened last night and there's no mistaken it was him--he can recognize him for that--he was beyond belief. Byakuya sighed when he grab the strap of his bag and tucking his left hand inside his pocket. "Can you accompany me to see the campus? I need you to tour me around," he asked calmly, that caused Kohaku's eyes widened and being nonchalant is impossible in this point. "How about I call my friend? She's not that far away from here."

"Doesn't matter who they are. I only ask for you."

The figure was taller than him and is handsome, his light violet eyes are filled with sadness and loneliness--despite his cold attitude. But Kohaku feel like the taller man was lonely, lost and miserable just like him, which makes them somehow felt lonely. "No problem," Kohaku answered with a vague answer, before he took out his flip phone and checked his messages. He also noticed Byakuya was staring at him with a cold and blank expression. He took a deep breath, putting his flip phone back inside his pocket and turned his attention back to him. "Are you gonna stand there orwe should go and I'll call her, just so you could--"

Byakuya remained stoic when he walked first, before he paused and glare at him. "Let's go."

Kohaku decided to just stay quiet while walking with him, to make sure everything is going smoothly and for fuck's sake--he had to 'babysit' this newbie first. The canteen was crowded with both students and lecturers, they can hear the chatter and laughter from the students who are eating their lunches. Kohaku sat on the corner while Byakuya took the seat opposite of him, they talked to get to know each other a little bit until Byakuya began to converse to him willingly--so Kohaku can understand his personality better.

Kohaku's ice breaking method worked after he was able to get to know Byakuya just by talking to him first, it's not easy to deal with a cold and mysterious person. Byakuya is indeed a mysterious person for Kohaku, he doesn't know why but he feels like he is special to him. They talked more often, exchanging stories about their life and experiences. "Do you think mushroom that grow from dead bodies can be edible?" Byakuya asked.

Wait... what?

Seriously, Byakuya is always thinking up various bizarre questions--most of the time he ends up getting weird questions from him. However, Kohaku learned that Byakuya is a pretty creative and thoughtful, despite his cold nature. Although he was confident, when Byakuya is staring at him with his sharp and icy cold gaze--it intimidated him. "Even if the mushrooms are edible, wouldn't it grow at all? I mean, you know that the dead body decomposes first and become a black bone before it completely petrifies. Besides, you should know this, right?"

Kohaku answered that made Byakuya looked amused when he said that, he was leaning back on his chair when he folded his arms on the table and gazed at him. "You know, some bacteria live inside human corpses, especially if they die inside a toxic environment like the sewage," he said.

Byakuya then started to glance at him in a matter-of-factly, then suddenly asked another stupid question. "Have you ever wonder how dinosaurs created new dinosaurs out of eggs?"

'Why am I paired with this kind of person...? He's quite... something else here...' Kohaku thought, realizing that Byakuya is an eccentric person. However, he needs to make sure this kind of questions will not happen any longer--but it seems this was happening to the next days of his lectures. "Have you wonder what does their meat taste like?" he asked, this is cursed question from Byakuya's mind.

'I guess Byakuya will be the most memetic guy in class, doesn't he? Despite a beautiful face of his, he will remain to be a weird fucker who have questionable questions,' Kohaku frowned a little when he watched him dozed off after that, not bothering to look around with a bored expression--his glasses glinted when the sunlight shine upon him. "Okay. Seriously, I know how cruel the world and we even heard from the news a lot, sometimes when people are in pain and can't take it anymore so they kill themselves," he frowned, even when he tried to make a point. "Yeah, that's also true," Byakuya suddenly muttered. "But what did you say? Didn't I tell you that's common knowledge?"

Kohaku fell down from hearing what he heard, he's frustrated when he tried to talk to him but he still thinks about this too much, Byakuya shook his head with a shrug when Kohaku looked at him confused. His voice was soft and gentle, but also still cold and deep. "Oh, you know that's common sense."

"Well well well, is it a new student from master's degree international class?"

Kohaku paused when he heard a familiar voice, immediately turning around to the side when Professor Hokuri came. Kohaku let out his grimace on his face, he was always annoyed when he encounters him and his lectures. After Kohaku getting to know Professor Hokuri as a lab assistant and learned about his true personality, he thought he was a calm and collected even detailed during lecturing his students... but in reality and outside the classroom, he was more than the lecturer.

He was nothing but a piece of shit to Kohaku. "This is the new student that I mentioned before, his name is Byakuya," Kohaku introduced him. "He wants to help me with the lessons, so I thought it would be best to have him as a companion."

"Yes, I see you're busy talking with the new student, good to see..." Hokuri said as he approached them, but Kohaku can see he's staring at Byakuya. He never liked him, and this time he's making his appearance at the canteen during lunch break. Why is he here? His presence is so irritating, Kohaku frowned at the sight of him coming closer to them.

Professor Hokuri looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "A new student huh? I haven't seen you before," he said, looking at Byakuya as he was taller than the student himself. "Shinobu Byakuya, right?" Byakuya stared at the lecturer, before he bowed a little at him. "Yes sir, my apologies if we haven't met before."

"No need to apologize," Hokuri waved his hand, before Byakuya asked him politely and respectfully. "And who are you supposed to be?"

"Me? I'm just a lecturer," Professor Hokuri said, then he chuckled. "It's fine, I can answer any questions you guys have, he introduced himself with a smile, almost smirking that Kohaku was there too. "I have higher expectation of you kid… not only on bachelor but master with no failures--I don't tolerate disobedience even someone like you--showing disrespect to me such as not knowing who am I. Do you know who I am?"

Oh my God, here we go again with that stupid shit lecturer. Sometimes he wished for a Phantom Beast to attack him and eat him alive from his living corpse--or anything that could happen to him, to become insane and forgot about him. Byakuya shook his head negatively, causing Hokuri to sigh. "Fine, I'll tell you then. The name's Professor Hokuri Deinukai, I'm a lecturer for the international master degree's class, and you should treat me with respect, understood?"

Hokuri belittles that made Byakuya suddenly triggered by his mocking tone, it made him clenched his fist by anger but he managed to hold back. "I'll answer everything you have, but you must be polite with asking me questions. I don't want you to take advantage of my kindness and hospitality."

"I'm sorry for that," Byakuya bowed his head and apologized, he knows that he cannot afford to be disrespectful to the professor. That's why Kohaku was surprised to see him so polite. The professor narrowed his eyes, before he suddenly hold the collars of Byakuya's clothes and made him flinched. "I don't like those people who are insolent and disrespectful towards me, you better learn your manners."

Kohaku was shocked that Byakuya was being humiliated like that, he never expected something like this to happen. He saw Byakuya's face twisted with dark glare, unable to say anything. The moment he saw the lecturer's hand reaching out to his neck--

Kohaku stand up for him once he was slapping the professor's hand away, that made him shocked so does Byakuya who's about to throw hands. "Stop it!" Kohaku shouted at the professor, who stared at him with an angry look. "What the fuck, sir? It's not his fault to treat him like that, why is it?"

Byakuya stayed silent as he stared at Kohaku, who stared back at Hokuri with the same furious glare. Professor Hokuri backed off a little, gritting his teeth. As he tried to restrain himself from throwing a punch at Kohaku, narrowing his eyes at how courageous that he defended Byakuya from him. 'Why did I sign up to be your lab assistant anyways... thanks to you for insisting me to apply...'

Kohaku thought, before he snapped back which made him silent. "Not that I use this some kind of authority nor as a smart-ass, but as you can see--class monitor also has the right to report, correct?" Kohaku said with a grin, Professor Hokuri clenched his fist, before he lowered his hand and knitted his eyebrows at him. However, a thrill of excitement runs through him that he was grinning at him. "I must admit, you are one of a kind, Kohaku."

"Huh?" Kohaku was confused by his words, but it's obvious that he's amused. Professor Hokuri was amazed by his reaction, he never expected something like that to happen. Not only that he's a good student and has a bright future ahead of him, but he is also intelligent and brave enough to stand up for what he believes in. "You're different from the other students that I've encountered in the campus--which is good," Professor Hokuri rubbed his hand that was slapped by him, before he lowered his hand and turning around. "I'm sorry for what happened, I've been in a bad mood recently."

He nodded in disbelief, rolling his eyes with a faint distaste. 'Excuses' he thought, still feeling the anger bubbling up inside him, making his blood boil hot. "Fine, I'll spare you for the time being, alright?" Kohaku nodded at him, feeling a bit relieved. He's glad that he got Byakuya out of danger, he wouldn't want Byakuya to be beaten up by that bastard.

"Yes, professor," Kohaku nodded his head, relieved that he didn't made a mistake. "I apologize for my attitude that has gone overboard, I suppose I have used too much power from that," he sighed, looking to the side when he smiled in almost grinning. "Good luck on your studies, Byakuya," he began to walk away leaving the two, thankfully no one noticed them because there are less people here.

Kohaku sighed blissfully after he left them alone and the canteen as well, he don't know how dangerous he was due to his attitude. Byakuya was deeply astonished by Kohaku's actions, so he bowed at him before he straighten up. "Thank you, Kohaku," he said in a calm tone, glad to know that he is willing to protect him despite their recent encounters. "Don't worry, it's fine if we want to talk more on our own," Kohaku said, while he shrugged it off in reply. "Lunch break is almost over, so we have to head back to the classroom," he continued as he check his phone.

Byakuya nodded, holding his forehead that was heated from that earlier, he could feel the pain now--however he didn't complain at all about it. "Don't worry about it anymore... he doesn't look like a person you can take lightly."

"I won't," Byakuya nodded, he didn't take the slap seriously, since he think it was just a light slap--it won't cause any harm to him. They continued with their lessons and they went home after that. Byakuya was not sure whether he should talk to him about his past life or not, but it's been two weeks since they became friends and kept silent about it. He is not sure if he should tell him about it. He doesn't know why he wants to, maybe it's because he knows that Kohaku is special to him--they became best friends after that.

On the other side, Hokuri sighed with relief after the bell rang when he was in his office, signaling the end of the campus hours for college students. He laid his hands on the table and looked at the clock on the wall. It's already five o'clock and the sun is already starting to set, it means that the semester break is coming. "At least the first year is over," he muttered to himself. "I'm just waiting for the second year to start, and preparing the materials for the students... and the examinations."

"Professor Hokuri!" A student came running into the room, knocking his door when he entered. It was the student who was late for class, he was one of the students that didn't show up yesterday. Professor Hokuri looked at him and sighed in annoyance. "What is it?"

"Professor Hokuri. I lost my notebook and I can't find it anywhere. I need it badly."

Professor Hokuri looked at the student, and he laughed at the situation. "Just take it and leave, I'm not interested in giving you the punishment for not showing up the class yesterday."

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