The gentle voice seemed to contain a mysterious magic power, and the terrifying feeling that chilled Abe Waka gradually dissipated, replaced by a cat-like curiosity.
"So, you once opposed Amaterasu? Who won between you?"
The presence from myth and legend was right before her eyes, and Abe Waka couldn’t contain her gossiping heart and couldn’t help but ask.
"Of course, it was me!"
Zhu Haomiao chuckled proudly, but immediately realized he might reveal information about reality and quickly changed the subject.
"Right, weren’t you going to take me to the staff office to complete the procedures?"
"Let’s go, class is about to start!"
Noticing that the boy in black didn’t want to discuss further, Abe Waka pushed down her itch for information and led him straight to the staff office.
Elsewhere, in the bustling classroom, Amaterasu rested her chin on one hand, staring out at the scenery with a detached and aloof demeanor, much like the arrogant sun high above, making people only dare to look from afar, not approach.
Looking at the [Servant] who was close at hand but seemed out of reach, Yazaki Yu hesitated for a long time and finally gathered the courage to ask.
"Have you met that Zhu Haomiao?"
"Waka said he’s extremely powerful. What do you think of him?"
Gazing back at Yazaki Yu with a faint look, Amaterasu was silent for a long while before speaking.
"Rather than calling that guy powerful, he’s more terrifying."
For the first time, Yazaki Yu discerned a hint of apprehension in the words of the divine-like [Servant] and was shocked, eyes widening.
Even you find him terrifying?!
Realizing something, Yazaki Yu nervously asked.
"From your tone, you seem to know him?"
After another long silence, Amaterasu nodded reluctantly.
"There was once a fateful encounter, where a bit of friction occurred."
Sharply detecting that his Servant seemed to have suffered a loss in this "friction," Yazaki Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm his tumultuous emotions.
To make Amaterasu suffer... just who is that person?
Amaterasu is just, kind, representing the light. If there’s a conflict with her, the other side is likely an evil devil!
With this thought, Yazaki Yu’s heart tightened, instinctively pressing further.
"Is he a demon? Dangerous?"
Upon hearing this, Amaterasu hesitated for a moment, then shook her head with a strange expression.
"That guy, though bloodthirsty and brutal, occasionally mad and twisted, always maintains a baseline of rationality, not quite a demon."
"So, what exactly is he?"
"A Holy Spirit from China, an evil dragon, or you might call him a ferocious god."
"Evil dragon? Ferocious god?"
"Yes, he’s called the son of the dragon. I suspect he’s the personification of China’s dark side..."
Mumbling to herself, Amaterasu suddenly realized she was saying too much and changed the subject.
"This isn’t something you should worry about, don’t overthink it."
Hearing this, Yazaki Yu frowned with concern.
"If he’s so dangerous... what about Waka..."
With a helpless glance, Amaterasu shook her head and sighed lightly.
"His danger is directed at beings like us. In his eyes, you’re like ants; as long as you don’t provoke him, he won’t bother with you."
"On the contrary, as long as you approach him with goodwill, he can even be considered friendly!"
"Moreover, he and Abe Waka have the [Servant] and [Master] relationship. They thrive together, suffer together. Not only will he not harm Abe Waka, but he’ll also grant her power... just like..."
"The power I granted to you."
Listening to Amaterasu’s reassurance, Yazaki Yu temporarily set aside his worries, but when thinking of Zhu Haomiao’s image, akin to a two-dimensional pretty boy, standing beside Abe Waka, a subtle pang of jealousy arose in his heart.
Chalk wrote complex Chinese characters on the blackboard as a mature and voluptuous female teacher turned around, smiling at the boy in black standing beside her.
"Introduce yourself, please."
With a slight nod, Zhu Haomiao glanced around, lazily curling his lips.
"Hello everyone, my name is Zhu Haomiao, from China."
After a few seconds, with no further words, the homeroom teacher watched Zhu Haomiao with an encouraging and expectant look.
"Mm, nice to meet you all."
The boy’s face held a pleasant and gentle smile, yet the female teacher could feel the bone-deep indifference and detachment emanating from him.
It was as if facing not a group of peers, but a group of lower life forms, not even bothered to say a few more words.
"Haha, Zhu Haomiao is new here, a bit shy, so everyone should interact more and get acquainted over time."
With a dry laugh to ease the situation, the female teacher placed Zhu Haomiao next to Abe Waka by the window, gathered herself, and began the lesson.
Elsewhere, under the curious, hostile, affectionate, and other complex gazes of his classmates, Zhu Haomiao sat by the window, completely uninterested in the lecture, idly gazing outside.
Beside him, Abe Waka discreetly glanced at him, confirmed he wasn’t causing any trouble, and finally focused on the class.
The morning passed by quickly, and when the bell rang, Zhu Haomiao stood up, casually patting Abe Waka’s head as he walked past her.
"Remember to take Diao Chan for a big meal."
Watching Zhu Haomiao leave without a second glance, without lingering his gaze on her for even a moment, Abe Waka packed her stationery and suddenly noticed the peculiar stares around her.
"You say you’re not in that kind of relationship, but he blatantly patted your head! You didn’t even react, obviously used to being patted. Damn, I wish a handsome boy would touch my head too!"
Sugiyama Yuriko rushed over, shaking Abe Waka in indignation.
Abe Waka’s mouth twitched, and after a while, she finally explained.
"You don’t understand. Him patting my head is not like what you think..."
"Then what is it like?"
With the image of the boy in black petting Diao Chan inexplicably floating in her mind, Abe Waka sighed longingly with a complex expression.
"In his mind, it’s probably just like casually patting a pet’s head."
With eyes wide and incredulous, Sugiyama Yuriko gasped.
"You guys play like that?"
Pushing open the classroom door, Zhu Haomiao walked in without an ounce of awkwardness, casually stepping into the unfamiliar classroom, heading straight for Amaterasu amidst the bewildered stares of the entire class.
"Amaterasu, class is over, let’s eat together."
Unintentionally snapping the pencil in her hand, Amaterasu didn’t raise her head, her eyebrows knit into a frown.