Not So Far Apart After all

It was the end of the orientation. Students were flocking home—well, not without being questioned first. Authorities had been called to the scene of the mayhem.
Honestly, it's kind of impressive they were responsible enough to report it in the first place.

(Outside the S.T.F.)
Enzaki had to give a “reasonable” explanation to the authorities.

Cough.
“As the principal of Arcaria Academy…”
“I take full responsibility for this little incident.”
“That said, why am I in Karo-infused handcuffs!?”

(The officer stared, deadpan.)
“Sir, even though you’re known as The Living Fog, you still have to adhere to the law.”
“As of now, you’ve broken 42 different statutes.”
“If you keep this up, we might bump it to 43.”

(Enzaki tried to use his Fate.)
“I know my rights!”
“Hey—watch the cane!”

(The officer sighed and called for backup.)
Click.
“Uh, requesting backup. We’ve got a Code: Smoke.”
“I repeat, Code: Smoke.”
“Sir, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you.”
“Sir—sir, put that down.”
“Sir—”

Thwack.

(Anyway, let’s check in on the main group.)

(Shiro looked stressed.)
“Goddamn, that’s the first time I’ve ever been questioned that hard.”
“How’d it go for you?”

(Daichi was sweating bullets.)
“Dude, I didn’t even do anything and I still felt guilty.”
“They’re terrifying.”

Sachi shook her head, disappointed.
“You two are pathetic.”
“Scared of some officers…”

(The boys glanced at each other.)

Ding!
That was the sound of their two combined brain cells sparking an idea. Whether it was good or bad... that’s for everyone else to judge.

“That threat would’ve hit harder,”
“If you didn’t literally try to fight one of the officers for separating you from Shindo.”
“You threatened to make sure they wouldn’t see tomorrow.”
“How did they even let you leave?”

(Sachi’s eye twitched.)
“How about I make sure you two don’t see tomorrow.”

(The boys subtly retreated behind Shindo.)

“Try it.”
(They smirked.)

Smart enough to use Shindo as a human shield. Took them half a day, but hey, they got there eventually.

(Sachi glared at them.)
Translation: Sleep with one eye open.

(She turned to Shindo.)
“Ms. Shindo, are you alright?”
“They didn’t do anything, right?”

(Shindo shook her head.)
“No, they didn’t. I’m perfectly fine.”

(Shiro looked concerned.)
“You sure?”
“After, you know... your Fate?”

(Shindo nodded.)
“Yes, I’m fine…”
“I’m sorry for worrying you all.”
“I just wish I could’ve helped.”

(Shiro reassured her calmly.)
“No worries. It’s fine.”
“We’re friends, right? It’s normal to look out for friends.”

(Shindo sheepishly looked up at him.)
“Thank you…”

(Shiro’s brain promptly short-circuited).
There should be laws about how cute someone can be.
Anyone who witnesses this level of cuteness should be detained on sight.

“Boy, you do know that means you’d be locked up, right?”

And there goes the voice, stating the obvious again

Mind your own business. Let me enjoy my thoughts in peace.

“Whatever you say…”

(Daichi draped an arm around Shindo.)
“He’s right. We’re all friends here.”
“And don’t worry about not stepping in.”
“Our little hero’s got it covered.”

(Shiro rolled his eyes.)
“Dude, enough with the jokes…”
“If anything, all credit goes to Gen Zero.”

How are they so different?
It really doesn’t make sense.

Right on cue, six pairs of footsteps approached.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

(A familiar fiery voice called out from behind.)

“Hey hey, firsties~”
“Give us credit for what?”

(Daichi froze.)
Please let that be normal fear freezing and not because of Arctic Hell.

(The four first-years turned around.)
As if there were any other six overpowered teenagers walking around. It was Gen Zero. Obviously.

(Shindo’s eyes sparkled.)
Somehow outshining Shiro’s literal star pupils. Also, impressive how fast she forgot all her prior worries.

“My dream has come true!”

(Sachi scanned the group.)
“Well, now we’re talking.”

(Shiro started sweating.)
“Yay…”
Of course they show up. Can this day get any worse?

They introduced themselves.
Correction: the main group introduced themselves to the rest of Gen Zero. Gen Zero just... existed.

(Ryo peered into Shiro’s eyes.)
“How peculiar…”
“Star-shaped pupils. Awakened upon receiving your Fate.”
“No existing data accounts for such a phenomenon.”

(Shiro was overwhelmed.)
If the Ice Prince glare wasn’t enough, now I’m getting scanned by some sentient AI.

(Keigo stared at him like a golden retriever discovering a chew toy.)
“Wow…”
“You’re the wannabe hero.”
(He patted Shiro’s back.)
“Good job!”

(Shiro nodded awkwardly.)
“Thanks?”

(Keigo turned to Daichi.)
“Hi hi! I heard you’re like me!”
“Wanna be friends?”
“Say yes, you know you want to!”

Before Daichi could even answer—

Thwack.
(Haru smacked Keigo’s head.)
“Stop being so persistent.”
“He can’t even get a word in.”

(Keigo laughed.)
Ha. Ha.
“So... wanna be friends?”

(Daichi blinked.)
“Sure…”

(Keigo jumped up like a kid at a candy store.)
“Yay!”
“New friend!”
“Haru! I made a new friend! Did you see?”

(Haru rolled her eyes.)
Sigh.
“Yes, Keigo. I saw.”

What would he even do without our supervision?

“Correction—what would he do without your supervision?”
“Since we all know you’re the one keeping him in check.”

What!? That’s not true at all.

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

(Ichika stared at Shiro.)
“Bright…”

(Shiro flinched.)
Ahhh!
What is happening to me? What did I do? This is so dumb.

Pause.
“Alright, enough of Shiro getting bullied.”
“For now.”
“Let’s see how the rest of Gen Zero reacts to Shindo.”
“Also, Sachi’s attempt to keep them away from her.”
“Which is just a thin excuse to fight them.”
Unpause.

(Shindo gazed at them with starry awe.)
Like she hadn’t just met two of them hours ago. Honestly, lucky she was distracted, because they were about to treat her like an anomaly.

(Ryo adjusted his glasses.)
“So…”
“This is the first-year you two mentioned?”
(He looked at Rukimi and Ayuri.)
“Strange. I can’t seem to analyze her Karo or Fate.”
My mentor could decipher oddities like this.

(Ichika appeared behind Shindo.)
“The strange feeling from before…”
“It’s still within you.”

(Shindo flinched.)
“U-Um… did I do something wrong?”
“I’m sorry…”

(Ichika tilted her head.)
Strange. She’s rather sincere. Like she’s actually trying to be human.

(Ichika gently patted her head.)
“Don’t apologize.”
“You did nothing wrong.”

(Shindo bowed in apology.)
(Haru stepped forward.)
“Please raise your head.”

(Shindo nodded.)

(Keigo tilted his head like a confused puppy.)
Oddly enough, this was the first time he didn’t seem overly excitable.
Almost… cautious.

“You’re strange.”
“You smell weird.”

Fwoom.

(Haru’s eyes twitched.)
“Stop being weird.”

(Keigo flew into rubble.)
Ha. Ha.

“Sorry…”

(Sachi rushed to Shindo’s side).
“Are you threatening Ms. Shindo!?”
“You’ll have to get through me first!”

Definitely not an excuse to fight them.

(Ichika smirked.)
“Interesting…”
“Please refrain from saying such misleading things.”
( She leaned closer.)
“Unless you want to disappear.”

(Sachi shivered.)
“What the hell are you!?”

That’s the first time she’s ever looked spooked.

(Ryo studied her).
“This girl’s brain waves function like a thermostat.”
“Rapid changes between hot and cold.”
“Unpredictable… but perhaps, if you carry the two—”

(Ayuri cut him off.)
“Glitchbrain, shut up already.”
“We get it. You’re a walking calculator that reads people like spreadsheets.”

(Rukimi quietly snickered.)

(Ryo spun around.)
“I can hear every decibel of that.”

(Shiro, waiting patiently for his turn to talk, finally snapped.)

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about their titles or hierarchy. Just crashing in and casually inserting themselves into our conversation—like, who even does that!?

And no, I’m not mad that they’re all treating Shindo like some kind of mystery box. Or that the stupid Ice Prince has this weird, effortless cool factor or whatever.

Ahem.

“Excuse me, you guys barge into our conversation, belittle me, then immediately start hovering over Shindo~?”

This isn’t even the first actual day. It’s orientation!
Let me go home in peace.

But before that—I’m leaving with one win.

“How would you feel if someone did that to you?”

(Daichi stared, mouth agape.)
(Shindo looked surprised.)
(Sachi was impressed.)

First time for everything.

Gen Zero stared for a bit—then burst out laughing.

(Ayuri wiped away tears.
“Did you hear what the Starry boy said!?”
(She mimicked his speech with a yap-yap hand.)
“‘How would you like it if someone did that to you~?’”

(Keigo smacked Shiro’s back.)
“That was gold.”
“You’re funny!”

(Ichika hovered behind Shiro.)
“You’re quite the strange boy…”

(Ryo analyzed him.)
“Amusing.”
“I may have overlooked his potential as a comedian.”
“Encrypting joke—placing in top 1%.”

(He tapped away on his tablet.)

(Rukimi approached calmly.)
That calmness should’ve been a warning. But no, he wasn’t about to murder anyone. Just wanted to say a few words.

“You’ve got a long way to go…”
“Before you can speak to us like that.”

(Haru quietly chuckled.)
Wait, her? Even the serious one?

“You’re mistaken.”
“There’s no if about it.”
“I’ve never seen anyone that gutsy.”

(Ayuri nudged Haru.)
“Aww, look who’s joining the banter.”
“How uncharacteristic of you.”

(Haru rolled her eyes.)
“I’m just stating a fact.”

(Keigo raised his hand.)
“Well, I think what you said was very cool, Haru!”
“Right, everyone?”
“…Right?”

Chirp... chirp...

“Umm, well, I still think it’s cool.”

(Haru flushed red.)
“Keigo, how many times have I told you to keep your thoughts to yourself?”

(Keigo tilted his head.)
“But Haru… you are my thoughts.”

Pause.
“Yeah, we’re skipping past that one.”
“You already know how it ends.”
Unpause.

Gen Zero resumed their chaotic banter, ignoring the world around them.

Honestly, they’re just brats in the bodies of 17-year-olds.

(The main group stood watching.)
(Shiro unamused.)

“Of course.”
“I get ignored…”

Why!?

(Sachi grinned.)
“Hey, Starry boy. That was kinda cool.”
“Talking back to the top dogs. I approve.”

(Daichi gave him a thumbs up.)
“Good job, man.”
“You almost made an enemy out of the scariest people of our generation.”

(Shiro grumbled.)
“I don’t want to hear another word out of either of you.”

My peaceful day started with pancakes.
Now it’s ending with me having a target on my back.
Thanks a lot, universe.

“You’re welcome.”

(Shindo approaches Gen Zero.)

“Ummm, Big Sis Ayuri?”

(Ayuri instantly lit up like fireworks.)

“Yes! What do you need? Big Sis Ayuri can get you anything and everything.”
“The highest quality diamond? An overly extravagant dress?”
“Ice Cube’s childhood hoodie?”

(Rukimi froze, completely blindsided.)

“How did you even get your hands on that?”

(Ayuri shrugged, all smiles.)

“Same way I get everything else — sneaking and stealing from you~”

(She turned back to Shindo, all sweetness.)

“Anyway~”
“Is something bothering you?”

Honestly, the fact that they only met today and Shindo has somehow already integrated herself into their circle is... impressive.
Not surprising, of course.
But still, impressive.

(Shindo sheepishly glanced at the six, then bowed politely.)

“I’m sorry if I’ve bothered any of you with my admiration.”
“You guys are my idols.”

Pause.

“Wow…”
“Another apology.”
“Well, let’s see where this goes in the next chapter.”

Unpause.