The cafeteria doors opened without warning, yet the moment Shadow stepped inside alongside Professor Claire, the atmosphere shifted in a way that couldn’t be ignored.

The noise didn’t stop.

It evolved.

Voices lowered just enough to make space for attention. Conversations continued, but no longer freely—every word now carried restraint, shaped by curiosity and sharpened by quiet judgment. Heads turned, some subtly, others without shame. Eyes followed. Measured. Interested.

Watching.

Every step Shadow took felt acknowledged.

Not openly.

But unmistakably.

His long, wavy black hair caught the light as he moved, each strand framing sharp, refined features that seemed sculpted to demand attention. He carried a natural presence—effortless, unforced—that made him stand out whether he wanted to or not. To some, he looked like the kind of person people admired without reason. To others, the kind they immediately disliked for the same reason.

But the attention wasn’t centered on him alone.

Because beside him walked Claire.

Composed. Untouchable. Indifferent and most of all busty.

She didn’t react to the stares, didn’t acknowledge the shift, didn’t slow or adjust. That indifference only amplified everything. Her presence alone was enough to command attention, but paired with someone unfamiliar—someone who clearly didn’t belong in their expectations—it created friction.

The kind people felt but couldn’t express properly.

Jealousy settled quietly across certain tables. Not loud, not dramatic, but present in tight expressions and lingering glances. It wasn’t difficult to read. A woman like her walking beside someone unknown was enough to irritate the fragile egos scattered across the room.

Shadow noticed.

Of course he did.

He let his gaze drift casually, scanning without staring. Students filled the space in clusters—different uniforms marking different standings, different disciplines, different priorities. Some carried themselves like they already owned the place, posture straight, eyes sharp. Others slouched into their seats, uninterested in anything beyond their meals. A few radiated something heavier—confidence edged with quiet danger.

And almost all of them were looking.

’Yeah... definitely not my fan club,’ he thought.

They continued toward the serving area.

Then—

A sharp scraping sound cut through the room.

A chair dragged across the floor.

Loud.

Deliberate.

The kind of sound meant to be heard.

Shadow didn’t need to look immediately.

He already knew.

Still, he did.

A tall male student stood from his table, his movement alone enough to pull attention toward him. Broad shoulders, clean uniform, controlled posture—everything about him spoke of discipline and confidence. Not the loud kind. The practiced kind. The kind built from always being acknowledged.

His gaze locked onto Shadow first.

Then shifted to Claire.

Then returned.

Slower this time.

Weighing.

Measuring.

He began walking.

Each step carried intention, and the students around him reacted instinctively, leaning back just enough to clear his path without needing instruction.

Shadow watched him approach, expression unchanged.

’Ah... there he is.’

’Found the villain.’

The guy stopped a few steps away.

Positioned perfectly—close enough to block the path, far enough to pretend otherwise.

"Professor Claire," he began, voice controlled, respectful on the surface.

His eyes flicked toward Shadow again, sharper now.

"But I don’t recall the academy allowing outsiders to casually walk in."

Shadow blinked once.

’Seriously? That’s your opening?’

A laugh almost slipped out.

Claire didn’t respond.

Not immediately.

And that silence said more than words.

Shadow tilted his head slightly, as if considering the situation from a new angle.

"My mistake," he said calmly. "Should I go back outside and knock first?"

A student nearby choked on their drink.

Another quickly looked away, shoulders shaking.

The guy didn’t react outwardly.

But his eyes hardened.

"This isn’t a joke."

Shadow nodded once, slow and thoughtful.

"You’re right."

He glanced around the cafeteria as if reassessing the environment.

"Everyone here seems very serious about lunch."

A brief pause followed.

Then—

A quiet laugh slipped through the room.

Small.

Contained.

But enough to crack the tension.

The guy stepped forward again.

Closer now.

Too close to be accidental.

"You’re new," he said, tone flattening as recognition surfaced. "From today’s joining test."

Not a question.

A statement.

Shadow met his gaze without effort.

"Wow," he replied lightly. "Very sharp, very observant."

A slight twitch in the guy’s brow betrayed irritation.

"Then let me give you some advice," he continued, voice lowering just enough to carry weight without raising volume. "Know where you stand. Especially when you’re standing next to someone like her."

There it was.

Clear.

Unmasked.

Shadow’s lips curved faintly.

’Took longer than expected. Fucked up people forcing fucked up scenario out of their fucked up minds. What the fuck does me walking next to her have anything to do with that.’ Shadow shook his head.

He glanced sideways at Claire.

Still silent.

Still composed.

Either intentional...

Or complete indifference.

Both were interesting.

"Thanks," Shadow said. "I was actually lost."

A flicker of confusion crossed the guy’s face.

Shadow continued smoothly.

"I thought this was a cafeteria."

He looked around again, slow and deliberate.

"But it feels like I just stepped into someone else’s ego problem."

This time, the reaction was louder.

Someone coughed to cover a laugh.

Another student turned away too quickly.

The guy’s jaw tightened.

"You think you’re funny?"

"No," Shadow replied calmly.

"But I think you’re making this awkward."

Silence followed.

Sharp.

Precise.

Cutting.

For the first time, the guy’s composure cracked—just enough to notice.

"Do you even know who you’re talking to?" he asked.

Shadow tilted his head again, as if genuinely considering the question.

"Someone who stood up in the middle of lunch to introduce himself dramatically?"

A pause stretched.

Then—

"Should I clap?"

A few students laughed.

Not loudly.

But clearly.

And that was enough.

The guy’s expression darkened, irritation finally surfacing beneath control.

A faint flicker of mana rippled around him.

Subtle.

Restrained.

But present.

Shadow noticed instantly.

Of course he did.

It wasn’t weak on the contrary, it carried an overwhelming aura—but that didn’t mean he would tolerate meaningless pressure being thrown his way.

’Oh... we’re escalating already?’

Then—

Claire moved.

Just one step forward.

"That’s enough."

Her voice wasn’t loud.

Wasn’t sharp.

But it ended everything.

Immediately.

The guy froze.

His expression shifted as if a switch had been flipped.

"Professor, I was just—"

"I know what you were doing," she interrupted.

No anger.

No softness.

Just authority.

"Return to your seat."

A long pause followed.

Tense.

Heavy.

Then he stepped back.

Not willingly.

But without resistance.

Before turning away, his eyes met Shadow’s again.

This time, there was nothing polite left.

Only intent.

A quiet promise.

This wasn’t finished.

Shadow smiled slightly.

’Yeah... definitely a recurring character.’

The guy walked back to his table, and slowly, the cafeteria began pretending everything was normal again.

Conversations resumed.

Noise returned.

But something lingered beneath it all.

Claire turned and continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Shadow followed, unhurried.

"...So," he said after a moment.

She glanced at him briefly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"You do this often?"

"No."

Simple.

Direct.

"Interesting," Shadow replied.

He picked up a tray, scanning the food without much interest.

"Because that felt very rehearsed."

Claire didn’t answer.

But for a fraction of a second—

A faint smile appeared.

Gone just as quickly.

"Eat," she said.

Shadow looked down at his tray.

Then around the room.

Then back again.

’Yeah...’

He sat down calmly.

This place is going to be fun.