“…Mr. Candor.”

There was a small pause before a wave of stifled laughter spread throughout the classroom.

“MR. CANDOR!”

A voice bellowed from the front where a furious man was stamping his feet in anger. Eventually he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rubber ball, which he promptly threw across the room.

Boing!

It bounced off the back head of a student whose face was nestled deeply into his arms. He had messy black hair and wore an oversized grey sweater with a hood. No matter how someone looked at him, it was clear that he was fast asleep.

“Ugh, hmm? What?”

The student lifted his head in irritation. His azure-blue eyes flashed as he looked at the professor with a sleepy gaze.

“I said, can you explain to the class the rules and laws of equilibrium that our universe abides by?”

The professor crossed his arms in front of his chest and tapped his fingers impatiently on his arm.

“Oh, it’s just give and take.”

The student answered nonchalantly before resting his cheek on one hand. His eyelids drooped down halfway almost immediately.

“Just? Just give and take? Forget this ignorant child! The laws are much more complicated than to be simplified as a meager give and take mechanism.”

A few students in the class shook their heads as they watched this all play out.

Serves him right, always sleeping in class. I wish I could curse him to fail. Why is he still here?

Negative thoughts surfaced amongst a handful of students.

This is an elite school. For ELITES. Not for this trash.

How could he not know the deeper complexities of the equilibrium law by now? It’s what we spent the entire first week on!

The boy once more closed his eyes, his body threatened to fall asleep once again.

Tsk. It’s too noisy. Let me cancel all of this…

With a simple thought, Jun Sugo was no longer able to hear all of the negative thoughts that surrounded him.

Where would I be without Ana?

Ana was his inner consciousness, who essentially doubled as his best friend.

Although, when he was young he thought her to be some sort of dream fairy, he grew out of that childish phase and found a more reasonable explanation.

His current theory was that Ana was the manifestation of his inner consciousness. She knew everything about him, and often times knew things that he didn’t even realize. It was as if she was hyper observant of the world and would always take the time to explain things to him during his dreams.

Ana taught him a great many things over the years.

One could even say that his inner consciousness groomed him into the person he is today, which was odd to think about.

How could someone teach themselves? But that was just the type of genius he was, or at least thought himself to be.

One of the things she provided answers for was his ability to read thoughts. Around three years ago, she made a random remark about selective soul reading.

It sounded weird at first, but the more Jun thought about it, the more he realized that he could choose who he wanted to hear thoughts from.

Just one person? How about that person over there? Or perhaps no one?

Once he discovered this newfound ability of selective listening, everything clicked together. He became more active, more social, and even started attending school.

Jun smiled inwardly and gave in to the comfort of mental silence. It didn’t take long for him to resume his blissful slumber while the professor continued to endlessly prattle on.

----------------------------------------

Eventually, the class came to an end, and he woke up almost on cue to take his leave.

“Class, remember to register for PSI World so that you can enter together later this week. Those who need permission from their guardians, please acquire it ahead of time or you won’t be able to enter with your friends.”

While most students were already of age, there were still quite of few beneath the age limit to freely register for PSI World.

“Also, I know some of you see each other as enemies, but sometimes you’ll make unexpected allies in the face of adversity. Those bonds will stay with you for the rest of time.”

The professor called out sternly as the students shuffled out of their seats.

“Mr. Candor, please stay a few minutes after class.”

Jun let out a deep sigh as he sank back into his chair. Casual conversations floated about the classroom as the students exited the room in groups.

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“Lady Hina you look so tired!”

A girl with watery orb-like eyes hidden behind glasses pouted as she fixed her friend’s clothes.

“Thanks Little Chi.”

Lady Hina acknowledged her caretaker somewhat sleepily. Her snow-white hair cascaded over her shoulders like strings of clouds. Although her eyes showed signs of extreme fatigue, the dreamy smile on her face was enough to disarm anyone.

Another girl interjected as they proceeded towards the exit, her attitude as fiery as her hair.

“I heard Hina got it on last night with her idol.”

The snide remark didn’t come off as playful. If anything, it seemed as if the girl was trying to slander Hina.

“Don’t you talk about Lady Hina like that! You know full well that-“

“Stop this nonsense and leave. Class is over!”

The professor came between them just as Little Chi was about to wage post class warfare.

“Don’t mind her Little Chi, let’s go.”

Hina pulled her follower away, but not before leaving one last statement to her aggressor.

“Oh, and Myra? I did, and it was a magical night.”

Hina smirked and quickly escaped without waiting for a response. Myra could only watch her leave with a flabbergasted expression.

How could any young woman say that so openly?!

After the girls left, the professor kneaded the sides of his head with his fingertips.

“Why is this class so difficult…”

He muttered to himself before making his way over to his number one most troublesome student.

“Mr. Candor, please explain to me what this is all about. Why do you sleep every day in my class? This was a constant complaint the entire last year with your previous professor as well. I prayed this year would be different, but you’re proving me wrong.”

Jun stood up from his desk before responding. He was noticeably shorter than the professor before him.

“I still have passing grades, what does it matter?”

This comment forced the professor’s veins to pop with subdued fury.

“You are barely passing! Everything you do is barely passing. All last year, every assignment you turned in, and every exam you took. All of it! Barely passing! It’s even a miracle you haven’t been kicked out of this school, I honestly don’t understand how your grades could stay so borderline without dipping into failure!”

The professor was practically red in the face as he tried explaining to the thickheaded student of his.

“Professor, what do you care if I’m barely passing? I’m still passing, no?”

The professor gazed at the ceiling and took in a breath before letting out a steady stream of air. He found his center and calmed down.

“You don’t understand what it’s like being in my position. Three years ago, you entered this school as the prodigy child. You’re barely turning 15 this year, and yet you’re in the same class as those in their final year. You’re three years ahead of your time. Where did all of that genius go?”

At this point, Jun almost felt bad for the professor. He was no longer having a fit of anger—if anything he sounded helpless and remorseful.

“You could have been the greatest student this elite school has ever seen. Even greater than your brother, Merdan. Why can’t you reach for the stars? Why can’t you at least just try?”

At this point, Jun frowned and his lips twisted sideways.

“Professor, first off, please don’t compare me to Merdan again, we’re nothing alike. Secondly, I’m passing my classes just fine. Whatever wild ambitions you have of me, please remove them. And lastly, I do understand what it’s like to be you, but do you understand what it’s like to be me? Don’t bother me with this anymore.”

Jun spoke curtly before brushing past the spaced-out professor.

Never before had a student spoken to him like that, and even worse; there was nothing he could do about it. After all, this boy’s father was Sahves Candor, one of the leading figures in the world.

Jun exited the room without a care. It’s not his fault that others had such high expectations for no reason.

Besides, it’s not good for me to draw attention to myself. That’s why I’m enrolled under the mysterious and scary Candor name. The less that people look into me, the better. There’s comfort in maintaining mediocrity.

As he made his way through the crowds of students, a commotion broke out nearby between two girls. With a second look, they were the same group of girls from his class—Little Chi and Myra.

“I said don’t badmouth Lady Hina!”

Little Chi was usually reserved with a demure personality, but right now her eyes ignited with the flames like she was ready to lead the charge of a grand crusade.

“What? Your Lady is a slut who throws herself at some idol that nobody even sees. She doesn’t think about her position or even her public image at all. She’s no Lady. And you, you’re just a servant. What right do you have to disrespect me?”

Myra snapped her fingers in disgust.

“Hina, get your dog under control.”

The two groups of girls stood across from each other. Myra stood at the front of one group, while Hina and Little Chi were surrounded by their own group of followers.

“What did you just say?!”

Little Chi’s face boiled furiously. Just as she was about to take a step forward, she felt a familiar hand placed on her shoulder.

“Little Chi stop.”

She had no choice but listen when an order came from the woman beside her. After all, she was Hina Luo’s personal maid.

In fact, her entire family ancestry had always served the Luo family. This was simply her duty and what she was born into the world for.

My Lady is too nice. She should fight back when someone slanders her. I can’t help but get angry for her.

Little Chi took a deep breath and stepped back. Hina tilted her perfect little head sideways and spoke out.

“Myra, you constantly attack me with words at every moment. What is it that you want?”

“Pfft! Why would I want anything from a dirty slut like you? You’re nothing to me. You only lower your status the more you keep up this holy charade.”

Myra threw her head back and laughed as if she were royalty, which was exactly what she was.

Myra Gradis, the young princess of the Gradis royal family that ruled the southern seas. If one decided to rank the top power’s of the world, they would have to take the Gradis family into consideration.

Hina replied calmly with a light smile. The small antics of a little girl could never shake up her mentality, even though they were close to the same age.

“So what? I like who I like. I don’t mind if you suggest that I’m together with that man, for he is the only one who will ever enter my eyes. Don’t tell me… is this about the rejection I gave your older brother?”

Gasps were heard from the surrounding spectators as a piece of juicy gossip had just been released. Myra’s face darkened.

“It was your fortune that he set his sights on you. The fact that you declined him can only show your own stupidity. You are an absolute disgrace to be within the upper echelons of society. I hope that your family’s entire industry falls and-“

A deep voice cut in just as Myra was getting amped up.

“Ladies, ladies. Please?”

A tall and handsome man with short blond hair made his way down the hall.

He flashed a warm and dazzling smile, making it hard for anyone to refute his good nature. His muscular frame seemed to give no room for argument as he positioned himself directly between the two opposing groups.

It was pretty brave for anyone to cut into a verbal battle between those of such high status. Fortunately, this man barely had the qualifications to do so.

“Humm.”

Hina let out a simple hum before turning away with the rest of her group following her.

Myra couldn’t help but let go of this frustration now that she couldn’t even make eye contact with her enemy. She snorted out in disdain and turned heel, walking in the other direction.

After the crowd of people cleared away, the tall man looked off in the direction that Hina went.

He let out a sigh of dejection and assumed a self-deprecating smile. If any of the other girls had witnessed this then they surely would have felt their heart strings tug violently.

However, there was still one person who remained to witness this defeated smile.

“The show was just getting good. Why’d you step in like that, Piggy?”