Chapter 3: The First Day

Arata stepped through the grand gate of Shōgun Academy. The magnificent building stood before him, all stone facades and polished windows, a facade of order that fooled no one. The air here was different from the military base, but a familiar coldness hung in it—the tension of a battlefield waiting for the first shot.

Inside, the hallways buzzed with the chaotic energy of students, but Arata moved through them like a ghost. He was on a mission, and a mission had no room for distractions. He wasn't a teacher; he was a soldier assigned to an infiltration.

He was on his way to the faculty room when he saw her. A woman with brown hair and glasses was struggling to hold a stack of books, her expression flustered. She was clumsy, and the books inevitably slipped from her grasp, scattering across the floor.

"Anuu... I'm so sorry! I'm in a hurry!" the woman said, panicking, not noticing him at first.

"It's okay," Arata's voice was calm and steady. "I'll help you."

As he knelt to pick up a book, their eyes met. A flicker of recognition crossed her face.

"Aree... aren't you Chisa Ibuki?" Arata asked.

"Yes... how do you know?" Chisa replied, confused. Then her eyes widened. "Wait a minute... I think I know you. Are you... Arata?"

"Yes, that's me, Chisa. Long time no see?"

"Arata-kun! Didn't you join the military? Why are you here, and why are you going to...—"

Arata quickly covered Chisa's mouth with his hand, cutting her off. After a quick, hushed explanation, Chisa's face turned pale. "No way! You're going to teach Class 9? Are you sure you're not in the wrong class, Arata-kun?"

Arata could only smile grimly. For him, the real hell was already behind him. But another door to hell was about to open.

Just then, a flash of crimson hair blurred past them. A girl carrying a tray of food ran around the corner, her expression a mix of haste and irritation. She slammed right into Arata, her food tray flying and splattering across the floor.

"Ouch! That hurts! Wait, you... do you know who you're dealing with?!" the girl demanded, her voice sharp and arrogant. She was the very embodiment of the "Crimson Queen" nickname.

Arata just stood there, looking down at her with a stare that was cold, unblinking, and utterly devoid of emotion. It was a soldier's gaze, honed on the battlefield. The girl, Akari Yumehara, froze, a shiver running down her spine as the weight of his stare settled on her.

Arata finally arrived at Class 9, a cacophony of loud chatter and music. At the front, he saw a disheveled brown-haired boy on his laptop, a smirk on his face. This must be Shion Kanzaki, one of the '7 Demon Kings.'

"What's his problem?!" Akari yelled as she stormed into the classroom. "He's so arrogant for someone so young!"

"Yoo, what's wrong this morning, Princess? You're not usually like this, Akari-chan," Shion Kanzaki teased without looking up.

Akari shot him a death glare. "If I were you, I'd choose to be quiet rather than talk, wouldn't I, Shion Kanzaki-kun?"

Shion simply shrugged. "Whatever you want, Princess. But I just got some info. We're getting a new teacher."

"What?! A new one? Are they really not giving up after all the times we made them quit?"

"This time, you'll be surprised," Shion said with a grin. His words were cut short as the classroom door swung open and Arata stepped inside. The entire class fell silent.

Arata didn't bother to greet them. He walked to the whiteboard and wrote a single rule: No playing during class.

He then began confiscating their belongings. Phones, game gadgets, makeup kits, and even Shion's prized laptop. The students erupted in protests.

"Wait! You can't do that! We have a right to have all this!"

"You bastard! Know your place!"

Four students, angered by his audacity, charged at him with folding knives and brass knuckles. Arata's movements were fluid and instantaneous. He disarmed the first two with a precise twist of their wrists, rendering their weapons useless. The other two were met with a series of quick, brutal blows that left them sprawled on the floor. When they tried to get back up, Arata pulled out a pistol and a grenade. The entire class froze in terror.

"That's just a toy gun to scare us! Let's attack him!" one student yelled, but his voice trembled.

BANG! BANG!

Arata fired the pistol at the ceiling. A piece of plaster fell to the floor, confirming the gun was very real. He then pulled the pin from the grenade. "If you dare to attack me all at once again, you know what happens if I let go of this pin, don't you?"

All was silent. No one moved. Arata, now with complete control, put the weapons away and finally introduced himself.

"My name is Arata Masamune. You will remember it."