chapter 1

In the realm of Zodiac basketball, there were four teams representing their schools. Each team was represented by the elemental signs of the zodiac, both the Western and Chinese Zodiac. They were known as the Zodiac Force. They had abilities far beyond human understanding.

Kai, the representative of Aries, transferred to Kaminari High school after an altercation with a member of the Zodiac Knights, a group of twelve people who represent the members of the Chinese Zodiac.

Kai paused for a bit outside the school gate. This will be his first time going to a "normal" school. But what is normal to someone who has dark red hair, scarlet eyes and white skin with the symbol of the Aries tattooed on the nape of his neck.

He was trying to look as inconspicuous, but his appearance ruined that for him. At least he had the decency not to go Full Zodiac Mode and showcase his horns. He wanted to be friends with mortals, non Zodianites.

Would they accept him just as he is, he wondered. Probably not.

Remembering that people taunted him about his appearance on his way here, he ignored their pithy comments and kept walking. But his composure was completely shattered when a young kid, probably ten years old, had asked him if he was going to hurt him. Kai has never hurt someone intentionally with his powers. But even he couldn't convince people of that.

He saw the students and heard their joyful tones. They spotted him and started whispering amongst themselves. Kai could hear them because of his enhanced senses. All members of the Western and Chinese Zodiac had enhanced senses.

"Hey! That kid is so weird. Maybe his parents didn't give him any attention. Maybe that's why he needs contacts and dyed hair."

"I would never be friends with someone like that." He seemed as if he wanted to figure out what sort of flowers to lay for my funeral.

Their comments grew worse every single time, each of them was making him out to be a horrible person with no morality.

Kai ignored their hurtful comments, because he knew that If he retaliated against them, their fears would be verbalised.

He walked across the grounds, ignoring their contempt. Thats nothing he could do about that right now.

The student had blonde hair and brown eyes pushed him into the mud.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." Why can't you watch where you're going? Don't you have eyes?" The students laughed at him and he slowly rose to his feet, his face covered in mud. He glanced at the ground, feeling embarrassed.

Kai glared at him, but it had no effect.

"Leave him alone." A person came to his defence.

"Come on! Lets go!" The person said, leading him out of the mob.

"Everyone. Run. Its a demon." He brought him to a private place where they can speak to each other without any interruption.

"Who are you?" Kai asked him. He glanced at the person in front of him with teal hair, emerald, snake-like eyes and skin the colour of polished emerald. Could he be a member of the Chinese Zodiac?

"My name is Daisuke Mikoshi, representative of the snake." He said.

"Snake?" Kai said, taken aback. Kai didn't remember him from the Zodiac Knights. But he did remember a guy who looked just like him as the water boy. Maybe that was him.

"Yeah! Everyone has that reaction." Daisuke said, his smile faltered.

"I'm sorry. That's not what I meant. But I never meant another zodiac sign. not since I left the Zodiac Force." Although Kai wanted to ask him about why he hadn't met him at the tryouts and Zodiac tournaments, he didn't want to pry into his personal lives.

"Whats your name?" Daisuke asked, indicating a seat beside him on the bench.

"Kai." Kai smiled.

"You must be wondering why the people ran away when they saw me. Its because I'm a Snake. They believe that the Snake is the embodiment of chaos and disorder and strives on breaking bonds. I have a bad reputation. But I can't shake off my image. As the snake, I have the power to hypnotise people."

"Look! I don't know anyone here, except you. Can you show me where my classes are." Kai said. "I think we're in the same class."

"Sure! I'd be happy to." Daisuke said.

"Lets get to class." Kai said. "I don't want to be late on my first day."

Daisuke and Kai wandered through the corridors until they stopped at classroom 2B. Kai paused for a bit before entering the classroom. He's entering the classroom where he would be forced to answer questions about his appearance. A member of the Zodiac was born with their appearance. They can't alter their appearance.Nor can they hide it from people.

He opened the door and found his teacher frowning at him. " No dyed hair or contacts."

Her lackadaisical expression turned serious. If i see you with your appearance like that, "I shall report you to the principal and call both of your parents. What's more, I'll record your humiliation to post on Instagram for my followers.

Kai wanted to get angry at her for her lack of manners. what kind of teacher wanted their students to suffer like what she described. Who would do such a thing?

"This is natural. Ma'am." Kai said, refuting her claims. He had no way of proving that to his teacher.

She scoffed. "Natural? How can that be natural? Whats natural is that you're already fifteen minutes late and that means you can't read the time. What's more, you're refusing to listen to your teacher"

"You've dyed your hair and are wearing contacts. I refused to believe two sixteen year old's appearance is natural. Now go sit down. We shall circle to that later."

"Yes ma'am." Kai said. The teacher asked for their names rudely.She wasn't polite about it either. She made it abundantly clear that she didn't trust us. Because of our appearance.

The teacher turned her gaze towards Kai who was fidgeting with his sleeve. He introduced himself, stumbling over his words. As soon as he said his surname, everyone gasped muttering hurtful names.

"Astraea! Not again." The teacher said. She stumbled over her words and dashed out of the room, leaving her students in confusion. Kai looked equally confused as he was left inside a classroom that erupted in anger and demanded to know the truth about his identity.