F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 202: What Is, Isn’t it?

...Machos.

A short man with a greasey beard, bald head, and a prosthetic limb on one leg.

Even in class, he walked around with a Wrench and threatened the students more than teaching them.

The name, the face—it rang in his head—

An image flashed.

His head hurt. But he could not put a finger on it.

Still, he enjoyed seeing this instructor. He was a bit annoying around the edges, but the sight of him made Soren feel safe.

This was not a feeling he had felt in a very long time.

It felt good. Very good.

And then the feeling suddenly disappeared.

Also, what was Machos teaching?

The bell rang...

The class had ended. Soren left the class with a smile on his face.

"Oh... you seem to have had a great time in class." Pencil commented as he approached.

Soren raised his head to him. He paused.

Shocked.

"Pencil, you finally got it. You finally got your black tunic?" Soren chuckled as he strolled over to embrace his friend.

Pencil smiled ear to ear as he patted his chest. "Of course i did. I finally took your advice and stood up for myself. After kicking the asses of those dumb bullies, I challenged a senior and instantly won."

As he spoke, Soren listened attentively. He chuckled happily.

One of his best friends was finally standing up to his bullies.

Even better, he managed to get his Black tunic and elevate from his clown status.

This was indeed incredible news.

It felt good. Very good.

But just as the feeling came, it vanished.

Soren shook his head—an image flashed.

"Soren!" Pencil called, snapping him from his thoughts.

"Yeah..." Soren replied, smiling back.

"Now that I have earned my black tunic, I can join your party right?"

Soren nodded. "Yes. I was even thinking of visiting the hunting grounds today. You know, there are a few things I want to check out." Soren raised a fist—he was obviously ready for a battle.

"Let’s just get the others to come along then." Pencil suggested.

Soren nodded as he looked to his issued cadet wristwatch.

However, it looked cut out of a cardboard.

Was it always like this?

"No need to bother, Soren. They are already here." Pencil spoke up.

Soren turned in the direction Pencil pointed.

Two figures approached. Cynthia and Tommy.

However, they were profound changes with them.

For one, Cynthia was without her helmet. Her hair was dark, long, and fell from her shoulders.

Beautiful brown eyes, long lashes, an oval face

Her facial features were the express image of a beautiful woman with a charm.

"Cynthia... your head has totally healed?"

She smiled. "Yes... all the operation scars are gone. Sophia did it for me."

Soren leaned in to look at her clearly. This was incredible news.

Deep down, he had always worried about her face.

Dr Kaya had said that healing after the operation woukd taje a very long time, abd there was no guaranty that cynthia would recover a beautiful face after living for so long with a reptilian head.

Seeing her face recover felt so good he could almost wipe.

But just as the feeling came, it suddenly disappeared.

Just when soren was starting to feel strange, he noticed Tommy.

But he was left shocked.

The bald boy was no longer Bald. He had a full lush of hair.

"Tommy, your hair is back?" Then Soren’s eyes traced his entire form. "I thought you were still recovering—hence the wheelchair."

Tommy shrugged. "Forget about that. You know me. I bounce back fast." He laughed, and Soren laughed with him.

The atmosphere was a cordial one, and it made Soren feel good—really good.

And then it didn’t.

There it was again. That feeling. Why does it suddenly feel bad?

Cynthia tapped his shoulder, "all we have to do mow is get Bloodshine and head straight for the hunting grounds."

Soren nodded. "Yes... as a party, we are so going to kick ass."

But just before there left, Soren saw him leaving the class area as cadets hurried to him, some asking questions, but most—simply to adore him.

Soren paused.

An image flashed in his mind.

Just then, the Instructor looked his way. Then, lightly pushing the others aside, he walked over to him.

Seeing him made Soren’s heart race. A flood of good feelings rushed through his senses.

Even when he felt it dwindle, he felt more.

It felt good.

Machos walked up to him, and the heads placed a hand on his shoulder, "I love you, Son."

Machos fave him the warmest smile he had ever seen on the man’s face.

However Soren’s smile froze.

Instantly, he took a huge leap back.

From Machos.

From his friends.

He stared at them, gaze focused like he was looking at his enemies and not people he cared deeply about.

"Soren, are you okay?" Cynthia asked worriedly.

However, just as she took a step towards him, he whipped out his Dagger.

"Stay away from me." He pointed the dagger at them.

"Don’t make me ask again. What... are you!?"

~silence.

Then everybody had thr same smile.

Wide.

Mischievous.

Horrific.

A slender long tongue. It kind of reminded him of Bloodshine’s. Except it was forked into three places at the end.

Its voice echoed through their throats. "How did you know?"

Image flashed in his head. This time around, it was clearer.

A serpent like creature. But with a human top.

Green.

An Eldritch soul.

Soren raised the dagger even higher. "Its easier for Old man Machos to beat the shit out of me with a Wrench, than say ’I love you.’

And even with hair, Tommy still picks his damn nose."

Those words stunned the creature.

But it was just for a second.

"Because of your abnormally strong will, I had to make the bursts of dopamine shorter. But no matter, we can just start again..."

The world churned around Soren, and felt his mind being pulled apart.

Remodelled.

"AHHHH!"

He screamed. It hurt. It hurt a lot... 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

(Author’s note: So how many of you noticed something was wrong from the beginning?)