As soon as Shiro Sakamaki sat down in his seat, before his chair could even warm up, Itsuki Nakano came bounding up with excitement glowing in her eyes.
"Shiro-kun! Dad said yes! You'll be our tutor starting today!"
Shiro pushed up his glasses, the light reflecting off the lenses giving him an almost scholarly glow.
Expected.
He had anticipated this outcome. No offense to Futaro Uesugi—he was smart, diligent even—but still just a normal human.
Shiro's efficiency and comprehension weren't just superior—they were on a different level altogether.
Sorry, protagonist of the original Anime. I'm here for the money... and your girl.
---
Later, at Noon
After finishing lunch, Shiro made his way to Shizuka Hiratsuka's office.
As soon as he stepped in, Hiratsuka tossed a sealed envelope onto the desk with a thud.
"Here. Your new identity documents. Once you pick a school, just tell me. I'll take care of the rest."
Shiro opened the envelope and glanced through the contents. Everything was exactly as they'd discussed. Clean. Flawless.
He nodded. "Thanks, Hiratsuka-sensei. I owe you for this. Next time you need something, I'll help you free of charge."
"Oh?" Hiratsuka raised a brow, amused. "That's a heavy favor, coming from you."
She wasn't wrong. Knowing Shiro had already stepped into Tier 6 level strength, that favor could fix nearly any problem.
What she didn't know was that, in the span of just a few days, Shiro had already advanced to the mid stage—and could break through to the peak at any moment.
Right now, in all of Japan, he essentially had no equal.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said with a half-smile. "But be careful. The Supernatural Management Bureau isn't exactly united. Some of the snakes inside might try something."
Shiro paused, then waved dismissively as he turned to leave.
"Then let them come."
His voice dropped cold. "But if they do, they'd better be prepared to die. I'm done holding back."
A chilling pressure filled the room. For just a moment, Hiratsuka thought she saw waves of lightning curling behind him—enough to shake the heavens.
---
Afternoon – Clubroom
Shiro sat at the piano, his fingers dancing effortlessly over the keys as he played "Going Home."
It was a song he used to hear every day after school in his past life. Though the years had dulled many things, the melody had never left him.
The music—clear, nostalgic—filled the room with an almost sacred tranquility. No sheet music. No accompaniment.
Only memory.
Yukinoshita Yukino, who had been reading quietly, looked up and closed her book.
"I didn't know you had this side to you."
Shiro shrugged modestly. "Just a hobby. Nothing special."
"But I've never heard that piece before... Is it an original?"
Yukino tilted her head, clearly intrigued. The melody had a classical depth and emotional subtlety. With her upbringing in music appreciation, she knew a composition of this caliber should've been famous.
Shiro gave a small shake of his head. "No, not mine. It's a tribute. Someone incredible wrote it, and I just brought it back."
"Really?"
"Really. If I had written it, I'd have just said so. No reason to lie."
From the side, Yui clapped her hands.
"Shiro, how about we give you your own slot for the campus festival performance?"
"I refuse."
"Eh? Why not? You play beautifully!" Yui Hirasawa blinked in confusion.
Tsumugi and Mio Akiyama both looked equally puzzled. None of them could understand why he'd reject the spotlight.
Shiro crossed his arms.
"No real reason. I just don't want to cause trouble. You already have your performance, right? I won't interfere."
"Boo~ You're no fun!"
"Then quit wasting your time trying to drag me into it. You should be practicing, especially you, Yui."
"Ah—yes!"
Yui rubbed her head awkwardly. Truth be told, she was the weakest of the group, and still made mistakes now and then.
But no one blamed her. Considering she only knew how to play the castanets when she joined, she had come a long way.
---
Shiro poured himself a cup of tea and sat back.
His eyes drifted to the book in Yukino's hands—"The Metronome of Love" by Utaha Kasumigaoka.
He raised an eyebrow.
"You like that one too, Yukino?"
"It's not that I like it," she replied coolly. "I just stumbled on it while looking for something new. So far… it's decent."
She added after a pause, "Also, please call me 'Yukinoshita' or 'Yukinoshita-san.' I'd prefer to avoid misunderstandings."
Her tone was proper as always. In truth, she leaned more toward classic literature, but sometimes, even someone like Yukino wanted something light and emotional.
Romance novels like The Metronome of Love were guilty pleasures—fleeting, like desserts.
Good in small doses.
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