Earthside: Steel and Sweat

The locker room buzzed with chatter as the class slipped into their blue gym uniforms. Kael pulled the jacket over his head, still fumbling with the strange fabric when the teacher's voice boomed from outside.

"Out to the track. Now."

When Kael stepped out, he froze.

Standing at the edge of the field was a towering man with a body like carved stone, his hair cropped short, a scar running jagged down his face. His eyes were like steel, sharp enough to cut a man in half.

Kael's breath caught. That pressure… this isn't just a teacher. He's a warrior.

The students didn't seem surprised. They shuffled onto the track, already used to his presence.

Hana, standing beside him, leaned in just enough to whisper, "That's Kurogane-sensei. He used to be in the army."

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly, taking in the scar and commanding stance. "…That makes sense."

"Line up!" the man howled. "I don't care about your excuses, your whining, or your weak lungs. You'll run until I say stop. Move!"

The whistle shrieked, and they took off.

Kael fell into pace easily, his body falling into the breathing rhythm he'd mastered in Numeria. Around him, students puffed and wheezed.

Riku wasted no time. He jogged up beside Kael, his words low and venomous.

"I heard an earful from the principal. And from my father," he sneered. "If you think this is over, you're dead wrong. This is just the beginning."

Kael glanced at him, lips curling into a smirk. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop talking and keep running, ladies!" Kurogane's voice thundered, making both of them stiffen and push harder.

7 Laps passed. Sweat beaded, breaths grew ragged, and one by one students began slowing. The first to falter was Kyotaro, the boy Kael had defended the day before.

"Pathetic, Yamada!" Kurogane's voice thundered. "Strength isn't built by giving up the moment it hurts!"

Hana's gaze flicked sideways. Kael was slick with sweat, but his breaths came in steady, measured rhythms. That strange way he inhaled and exhaled — controlled, precise. She narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

When the run ended after 10 laps, Kurogane clapped his hands. His scar twisted with a rare grin.

"Not bad. Especially you, Hasunuma. Your hidden gem's starting to shine."

Kael straightened, offering a faint bow. He could feel Hana's stare from the benches.

While Hana sat cooling off, a group of girls drifted over.

"Hey, Hana… is there something going on between you and Kazuki?" one whispered.

Hana stiffened. "…No. We're just normal friends. That's all."

The girls exchanged glances, smirks curling. "So, you wouldn't get mad if we made a move on him, huh?"

Her tone was flat. "Do what you want."

The girls giggled and marched over to him.

"Kazuki, wanna hang out with us? Karaoke after school?"

Kael scratched his head with a polite smile. "Sorry, ladies. I've got something with Hana."

"Eh? But she just said—"

He leaned in, grinning like it was obvious. "She's just mad at me. But yes, we're dating."

The three girls gasped, cheeks coloring. "Wha—?! Really?!"

"Of course. Otherwise, how could I say no to three gorgeous ladies right in front of me?" Kael added smoothly.

They blushed harder. One winked before they left. "Well… if it doesn't work out, don't waste your time. We'll be waiting."

Kael chuckled softly, but his eyes drifted to Kyotaro, who was scribbling in a small notebook at the bench. Curious, Kael wandered over.

"Hey, Kyotaro. What are you reading?"

Kyotaro adjusted his glasses, glancing up. "Hey Kazuki. I'm looking over my case notes."

"Case?" Kael echoed.

"Do you believe in the supernatural? Because I do." His voice dropped. "Whenever I see strange news, I record it. Look." He flipped the notebook; pages filled with cramped handwriting. "One case stands out. Months ago, a forty-year-old NEET named Shiro Kano went berserk. Shouting, smashing things in the middle of the night, then jumping from his window."

Kael frowned. "Why?"

"The authorities said he was… unstable. Questionable things on his computer and in his magazines."

Kael blinked. Magazines? Computer? The words meant nothing, so he just nodded. "…Go on."

Kyotaro's glasses flashed. "But a neighbor said something strange. That before he jumped, he was growling like an animal, and shouting. 'Long live the Demon Lord! Death to the human race!'"

Kael froze. Demon Lord? "You're sure?" he asked quickly.

"That's what she said. It was on the news."

Kael's thoughts raced. Three-day difference… months ago here… could it match the Demon Lord's rise in Numeria?

His mind spun with the pieces, but before he could press further, Kyotaro suddenly stiffened.

"…Heads up. Incoming storm."

Kael turned — and sure enough, Hana marched toward him, her face dark.

"You." She jabbed a finger into his chest. "What did you tell those girls?"

Kael blinked, still half lost in thought. "What did I say…?"

"They told me if I didn't 'watch my man,' they'd steal you away from me." Her glare sharpened. "Care to explain?"

Kael coughed. "Uh… those girls? They asked me to hang out, but I said I had plans with you. So, I declined."

Kyotaro shifted awkwardly, clearly ready to leave and give them space. But Kael reached out. "Wait, don't go."

Hana's eyes flicked to him. "Who is this?"

"Ah—this is Kyotaro," Kael said quickly. "A friend."

Kyotaro bowed slightly. "Hello, I'm Kyotaro Yamada. Nice to meet you."

Then, when he realized what Kael had said, he blinked, startled. "We… are?"

Kael grinned faintly. "Why not?"

Kyotaro's lips tugged into a small smile, pushing his glasses up.

Hana tilted her head. "And how did you two meet?"

Kyotaro answered before Kael could. "Kazuki helped me yesterday. When the three… idiots—were ganging up on me."

Hana's eyes widened. "You didn't say anything about that."

Kael shrugged, his tone calm, almost flat. "I don't like bragging about what I do."

For a moment, Hana just studied him. Then, noticing how genuinely happy Kyotaro looked, she softened. "Well then… nice to meet you, Kyotaro. I'm Hana Shimizu. From now on, I'm your friend too. So now you have two friends."

Kyotaro's smile brightened, almost boyish. "Thanks."

When classes ended, the three went to the lockers to change their shoes. as Kael opened his cubby, his expression didn't change — though his shoes were drenched, water dripping steadily onto the floor.

The hallway went quiet. Dozens of students lingered, peeking around corners, trying to see how he'd react. From behind them, muffled snickers came from Riku and his lackeys, half-hidden but obviously watching.

"Someone must be messing with you," Kyotaro muttered, frowning.

Hana's eyes narrowed. "Most likely Riku. He was running his mouth at you earlier."

Kael, however, just knelt down, expression unbothered. "This is good," he said plainly. "Keeps my feet cool after that heavy run."

He peeled off his socks and slid his bare feet into the soaked shoes without hesitation, standing as though nothing had happened.

Kyotaro stared, wide-eyed. Hana blinked, caught between irritation and reluctant amusement.

"…Let's go," she said, whispering. "To your house. I'll teach you some things about this world."

"I'll walk with you to the station," Kyotaro added quickly.

Once outside the gates, Kyotaro burst out, "That was badass, Kazuki! How you didn't even care about the shoes—you just wore them like nothing."

Kael chuckled softly, offering a simple smile.

But before they could continue, a voice rang out across the street.

"Kazuki!"

They turned. Riku stood with his buddies.

"In three weeks," he shouted, "the sports festival starts. You'd better prepare yourself… for a level of humiliation nothing you say will pull you out of."

Laughter trailed behind them as Riku disappeared down the street.

Hana and Kyotaro both looked at Kael, concern written on their faces.

"…Are you going to be okay, Kazuki?" Kyotaro asked carefully.

Kael's expression didn't waver. "Yeah. Nothing to worry about. I'll deal with him."

But Hana's chest tightened. Kael wasn't from this world. He didn't even know what a sports festival was. And for the first time, she wondered if his calm wasn't confidence at all—

—but ignorance.