Transfer Student

Ring ring ring—

The alarm vibrated violently, letting out a harsh, clamorous sound. Aozaki Aoko slowly opened one eye and stared blankly at the ceiling above her before casually swatting at the alarm clock.

"Hiss—"

Clearly, manga was all lies. Smashing an alarm clock with one hand was impossible; instead, its hard casing made her hand ache.

Her mind was still groggy. She and Alice had stayed alert the entire night yesterday, yet the intruder had never attacked. She had finally drifted off in a haze, and it felt as though she had only just closed her eyes—she had slept for barely a second. Rather than feeling refreshed after waking up, her head felt even heavier.

I'll get up after another ten minutes...

Aoko lowered her eyelids, pulled the blanket tighter around herself, and covered her mouth as she yawned. Planning to get a little more sleep, her consciousness gradually blurred, and she sank into dreams once more.

"Crap, I'm going to be late!"

When she woke again, there were only ten minutes left until eight. Aoko sprang out of bed, and the icy air made her shudder, instantly clearing her hazy mind.

Rubbing her hands together, she hastily threw on a down jacket and moved her somewhat stiff limbs.

The manor lacked heating, and it was the cloud-covered depths of winter. She did not need to look at a thermometer to know how bone-chillingly cold it was.

After hurriedly washing up, she rushed toward the school without even having time for breakfast. But not every struggle led to a happy ending—Aoko was still late.

She let out a soft sigh and knocked on the classroom door.

"Come in."

A young man stood at the lectern with a lesson plan in hand. Everyone in the classroom turned to look at her. Though Aozaki Aoko was usually carefree and utterly unladylike, in this situation, she wished she could find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.

"Don't let it happen again, Aozaki."

Teacher Yamashiro said with a smile, pushing up his glasses. He had graduated from this high school himself before returning to teach here. He looked barely older than the students, and for that reason, they admired him more than the other teachers.

Aoko nodded slightly, then quickly headed for her seat. Her embarrassment lasted only a moment. Before long, she returned to her usual devilish self, and every student her gaze swept over lowered their head instinctively.

"Today, our class will be welcoming a transfer student."

Teacher Yamashiro placed the lesson plan on the lectern before him without opening it, instead beginning to introduce the transfer student.

Aoko's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Shizuki Soujuro from yesterday? But wasn't his placement already settled? Is there another transfer student?

"Let us welcome Michael."

As Teacher Yamashiro spoke, the classroom door opened, and a boy in a fitted school uniform walked in.

He had short, silvery-white hair, and his brilliant blue eyes resembled exquisite sapphires. His handsome features seemed like the very definition of beauty. Even the school uniform, which students often complained about, took on an entirely different air when worn by him, becoming more like an expensive custom-made formal suit.

"Hello, everyone. I am Michael Stefan Animusphere. I hope we can enjoy a wonderful school life together in the time ahead."

The white-haired boy placed his right hand over his chest and bowed slightly, a warm, sunlike smile still on his lips. Quite a few girls were already screaming inwardly, staring at him with shining eyes.

How could it be him?!

Aoko cried out in her heart as well, though not like the lovestruck girls around her. She had only caught a glimpse of him, but she had seen this person before—in the woods last night.

But what is this mage who covets the Ley Line doing here as a transfer student?

Something was clearly off. If this mage truly made trouble at school, a half-baked mage like her would be no match for him. Still, considering the principles mages were required to follow, he should not act recklessly...

Aoko's thoughts were a complete mess. She did not notice Michael walking toward her until his figure blocked the daylight from outside.

"Could you please give me this seat?"

"Sure, sure."

The student seemed to become lightheaded, his will turning hazy. It was only simple Suggestion Magecraft, but ordinary students had no way to resist it.

"Thank you very much."

"Morning, Aoko."

Michael sat in that student's seat and greeted Aoko. The smile on his face grew even brighter, making him look like an old friend she had known for years.

The other students wore looks of sudden realization. So they had known each other already. Otherwise, someone like him would never have transferred to such an utterly ordinary high school.

But what exactly was his relationship with President Aozaki? Friends, or...

Everyone's imaginations ran wild, while Aoko's face darkened. She glared furiously at the smiling Michael before her. She had not expected him to actually dare use magecraft in public. Did he not know the principles mages were supposed to follow?

More importantly, his arrival might turn her life into a complete mess. She did not want her last bit of peaceful school life to be ruined.

"Don't worry, Aozaki. I have no intention of ruining your peaceful school life."

A voice suddenly rang out in her mind, startling Aoko badly. She looked around in confusion before finally fixing her gaze on Michael in front of her.

"Was that you?"

"It is merely a simple spell. Don't worry. If I truly meant you harm, I would not have let you leave last night."

Aoko pressed her lips together. It sounded arrogant, but Alice had personally admitted that the intruder before her was indeed troublesome. Even she had no confidence in defeating him for certain.

"I merely want something. Once I get it, I'll leave."

"What you want... could it be control of Misaki City's Ley Line?" Aoko replied somewhat awkwardly.

What surfaced in her mind was not only his words, but also the formula for this voice-transmission spell. She only needed to pour magical energy into it to use it. Otherwise, Aoko would likely need quite some time to learn the formula on her own.

"Not merely control of the Ley Line. I want you too."

Hearing his soft chuckle, Aoko instinctively clenched her fists, wanting to plant a hard punch right in Michael's face.

Fortunately, she restrained the anger in her heart. This was not the time to act. If mages fought each other at the school, the Mage's Association would not let them off easily.

"Just kidding. You yourself have no value. All I want is the Magic within you."