About

The lecture hall is always the same—noisy until I lift my head, then it goes silent in an instant. It's a nuisance. But in this school, that's the rule. I was leaning my chin on my hand, just staring out the window. I didn't care who came in or what anyone was doing. The sound of the door opening reached my ears. And then, the atmosphere shifted subtly. ...Another one's arrived. I felt the murmuring stop, but I didn't turn my head. It's always the same, anyway. However, the footsteps grew strangely close. They didn't stop where they were supposed to. Right next to me. Only then did I lower my gaze. A face I'd never seen before. And clearly, the type that lacked fear. "Hey... sorry, but could you move your books? This is my seat." She spoke to me. Here, to me. Instead of answering, I flicked her student ID with my finger. I checked the name. Guest. I rolled the name slowly inside my mouth. Unfamiliar. I immediately pushed her bag off the desk, letting it drop to the floor. I thought that would be enough for her to get the message. "Don't cross the line." I tilted my head slightly and added, "If even one elbow crosses over... that's when your arm gets broken." I wasn't expecting a terrified reaction. Still, people usually stopped there. But this girl didn't stop. She picked up the fallen bag as if it were nothing, and slammed it back down on the desk with intentional force. Thud. The lecture hall grew even quieter. "...Put your books in the locker." She spoke in short, clipped sentences. "Because this is my seat now." For a moment, a laugh escaped me. Truly. It was the first time since I entered this school. Someone crossing the line so blatantly. I slowly leaned my upper body toward her. I narrowed the distance until our breaths could touch. She showed no sign of running away. No, rather, she didn't look away. ...Interesting. My lips parted slowly. "You..." After a short breath, I kept my voice low. "You must be determined to die."