Chapter 5

To keep the troublemaker Jin Yuxuan from lashing out in humiliation after being rejected, Qi Yue immediately turned his gaze to Beixing, using him to divert everyone's attention.

Jin Yuxuan had been about to say something, but when he saw Qi Yue looking at Beixing, his attention shifted. He wasn't the only one. The students watching the drama also followed Qi Yue's gaze to where Beixing sat.

Beixing had been watching Qi Yue and the other students. Seeing the popular Qi Yue surrounded by their gazes, envy appeared in his eyes. Then Qi Yue suddenly looked his way, and he blinked in confusion.

Before Jin Yuxuan could recover and continue pestering him, or lash out in humiliation and use his Esper Ability on him, Qi Yue stepped toward Beixing.

Zhao Yu folded his arms and scoffed. "Do you understand now, Jin Yuxuan? In Class F, Beixing is the only one Qi Yue considers worth fighting. Come back when you can beat Beixing."

Coldly rejected by Qi Yue and then mocked, Jin Yuxuan's face darkened.

Once he had put some distance between himself and Jin Yuxuan, who had provoked him, Qi Yue breathed an inward sigh of relief.

"Um... did you need something?" Beixing swallowed and looked up nervously at the boy before him, who had delicate features and an outstanding bearing.

Qi Yue: "..."

Since he was already here, Qi Yue smiled and took the opportunity to accomplish his goal. "Want to train together?"

He needed to see what Beixing's abilities were like.

Beixing froze for a moment, blinked several times, and shook his head. "N-no. Anyway... no one can get close to me, so there's no point in practicing. I don't even have anyone... to spar with."

Beixing's voice was so quiet that it scattered in the wind. If Qi Yue hadn't been standing close, he probably wouldn't have heard him.

Esper Ability Users couldn't get close to him, so he had no opponent and refused to practice? Qi Yue lowered his gaze to the figure wrapped in a dark gray cloak on the chair, his eyes deep and unreadable.

"Beixing."

Before countless pairs of eyes, the white-haired, red-eyed boy reached out to Beixing, who was curled up on the chair, hugging his legs and hiding beneath his cloak.

"Huh?"

Looking at the hand held out before him, its knuckles distinct and fingers long and slender, Beixing looked up in confusion.

"If you're willing."

Standing at the boundary between light and shadow, the tall, slender boy spoke in a clear voice, every word distinct. "I can be your opponent."

Chapter 5

"Wh... what?" Beixing's pupils contracted, and his mind went blank.

His classmates all said that anyone who came close to him would suffer misfortune. Qi Yue's actions confused him. He didn't believe that he, an ill-omened, cursed thing, could receive such treatment.

"!"

The Class F students who heard Qi Yue's words were no less shocked than Beixing himself. A minute ago, he had mercilessly rejected Jin Yuxuan, saying he wasn't worthy. Then he turned around and warmly reached out to Beixing, saying, "I can be your opponent."

"This is ridiculous..." In Qi Yue's eyes, Beixing, a mere cursed body, was actually more important than someone as precious and esteemed as him. Jin Yuxuan, who had been rejected, felt humiliated.

Beixing hadn't taken his hand, and the burning stares behind him hadn't diminished. Qi Yue tilted his head. "You don't want to?"

The boy before him was elegant and gentle, with a distinctive air. He gazed at Beixing, his blood-red pupils clearly reflecting Beixing's own foolish-looking face.

"N-no, that's not it."

The black cloak trembled nervously. "I do!"

As if afraid of losing the chance, a pale, curled hand emerged from the cloak, crossed the boundary between shade and sunlight, and settled trembling in the long-fingered palm.

Being my opponent and all that must be a lie, Beixing thought. He probably just took pity on me being all alone and kindly wanted to include me. But even so, he was tempted.

A gentle breeze lifted the boys' hair, and the sunlight was just right.

"He seems to be glowing. I think I see a holy angel..."

At the sight, a student murmured aloud.

"What angel? He's a devil wearing an angel's skin!" Jin Yuxuan spoke viciously, jealousy nearly spilling from his eyes. "No angel has eyes the color of sinful blood."

"He's so arrogant when he's only just arrived. His day will come. Sooner or later... the Advanced Class will kill him."

"Heh." Zhao Yu sneered. "You think Qi Yue would be afraid?"

Jin Yuxuan was at a loss for words and fell silent.

"...Um, thank you." Beixing walked beside Qi Yue with his head lowered, his voice muffled.

"You're welcome." Qi Yue tightened his grip on Beixing's hand and breathed a sigh of relief. He was grateful to Beixing for letting him borrow his "influence" once again to avoid the other Class F students' pestering.

There was no question that Beixing was unusual. He had kept to himself in the classroom, and Qi Yue guessed there might be something unusual about his training too. Perhaps he even trained in a different place from the other students. To avoid making a mistake and lend more credibility to his earlier words, "I know you, Beixing," Qi Yue led him toward Teacher Jian.

Everyone wore a Wristwatch for training, so it wouldn't seem out of place for Beixing to wear one too. If anyone was surprised that Beixing was wearing one for the first time, Qi Yue could explain that he was "treating Beixing like an ordinary student."

As they neared Jian Haosen, who was handing out Wristwatches, Qi Yue let go of Beixing's hand.

Beixing froze and turned his head to look at Qi Yue nervously.

Does he not want to spend time with me anymore?

Beixing raised his Mosaic-covered face toward him. Qi Yue stood where he was and raised his Wristwatch. "Go on. I'll wait for you."

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but the Mosaic blocks on Beixing's face seemed finer than those on the other students'.

Qi Yue treats me like an ordinary student? Beneath his cloak, Beixing's eyes brightened.

"Mm!"

Beixing nodded solemnly, his face covered in Mosaic, then walked over to Teacher Jian.

Qi Yue studied Beixing from behind. Though he was hidden beneath the oversized cloak, his movements revealed how much empty space there was inside it, and his steps were unsteady. How had such a frail body endured Teacher Jian's punch and come away looking unscathed?

"Thanks to the transfer student, that place is finally getting used again after being empty for so long. When was the last time? Ah... two years ago. What's the use of keeping this piece of trash around? Our academy really does take in any kind of garbage."

"That's enough. Don't forget the Trial Tournament three months ago. If Beixing hadn't melted and absorbed that mutated black bear, we'd have all ended up in its stomach."

"But he also caused Teacher Wu's mental disturbance..."

Jin Yuxuan's sarcastic voice faded away, and Qi Yue's ears twitched slightly as he picked out the key points.

Sure enough, given Beixing's unusual condition, the academy had set aside a separate space for him to train.

Was it over there? From the corner of his eye, Qi Yue glanced at the area along the left edge of the field. It occupied a fifth of the entire field, and none of the students had set foot in it since entering.

Melt, absorb, mental disturbance? Why did those descriptions sound so much like...

"Qi Yue, I-I'm ready." Beixing walked toward him with his Wristwatch, looking expectant.

His thoughts interrupted, Qi Yue smiled. "Mm, let's go."

When Beixing reached his side, Qi Yue tentatively stepped toward the empty area in the left corner, watching Beixing's movements out of the corner of his eye.

Beixing walked naturally, without any hesitation.

"Sorry." Beixing lowered his head to put on his Wristwatch, hiding his nervousness. "Because of me, you can't join everyone else."

He had guessed right. Qi Yue's steps grew lighter.

"...You don't need to apologize. It's my honor," Qi Yue said truthfully.

Even if he only took pity on me and wanted to include me, he's so considerate that he doesn't let it show at all. That's Qi Yue for you. Beixing's cloak began to sway slightly. "No, it should be my honor..."

"Um, should we r-run?" Beixing had little experience making friends with people his age. He didn't know what friends were supposed to talk about or do together, and he was afraid Qi Yue would find him boring.

Though... he was a very boring person to begin with. All he did all day was sleep... and sleep some more. Most of the time, Teacher Jian was the only one who spoke to him. He eagerly suggested exercising because it was the only topic he could come up with.

"Mm." Qi Yue nodded.

Then he made a gesture inviting Beixing forward. "You first."

He needed to observe Beixing from behind.

"!"

That's Qi Yue for you. He's so thoughtful and attentive, he even took my slow way of doing things into account. Beixing's eyes grew brighter still, and he said solemnly to Qi Yue, "I'll do my best."

Qi Yue: "...Mm, I believe in you."

Beixing took a deep breath, fixed his eyes on the track, and set off.

To assess Beixing's stamina, Qi Yue followed unhurriedly behind him, never once intending to overtake him. In any case, on Beixing's exclusive turf, he didn't have to worry about being hurt by the other students' Esper Abilities.

To the other Class F students, this became a case of "Qi Yue, who knows Beixing inside and out, looking after him even while running." After all, no one knew better than they did, having been his classmates for years, how utterly awful Beixing's stamina was or how he was slower than a snail.

When the number on the Wristwatch showed the last 800 meters, Qi Yue heard a thick, dripping sound on the track ahead.

Huff, huff...

Squelch...

Beixing's breathing mingled with the sticky sounds. On the track, skin like a sticky, Slime-jelly-like liquid adhered to the surface, then peeled away again.

Those were Beixing's feet, if his eyes weren't deceiving him.

Qi Yue: "..."

He thought he now understood what Teacher Jian had meant by "melt" in the classroom. His mind returned to the train of thought Beixing had interrupted not long ago.

Melting, merging, no one daring to come within roughly a meter of him, mental disturbance.

He thought he had guessed what Beixing's Esper Ability might be. Now he needed to make sure.

Qi Yue stopped and called out, "Beixing."

Hearing Qi Yue's voice, Beixing stopped almost immediately.

Does he think I'm too slow? Beixing nervously licked his dry lips and turned around slowly, as though trying to put it off. "Am I..."

Remembering what Jin Yuxuan had done, Qi Yue interrupted him and held out his hand. "Give me your Wristwatch. I'll do the rest."