'Why did I act like that?' - Kyoku thought, groaning at the fresh memory of his rash actions from mere minutes ago. - 'I just did the stupidest, cringiest and totally not-worthy-of-doing thing in my entire life'

Yes. Kyoku was indeed regretting his stupid and borderline chuuni speech from before. The fact that the white-haired girl sitting beside him giggled when he groaned wasn't helping. Neither was that he found the class boring and lacking in challenge, since he could remember everything after hearing it once -surely a boon from his heightened Stats. He had expected many classes from a school related to the Abyss... not English.

Only one positive thing had happened in his morning, and it was related to the one thing he wasn't interested in.

Skill Acquired:

- Language Language (Lv. 2): Passive

The user can understand languages with more ease the higher the level. This skill only levels up when a new language is learnt.

Languages Learnt:

-Japanese

-English

"You know it isn't that bad, right?" - Kyoku heard someone say from his right as he checked the new skill. Turning his head, he saw the white-haired girls red eyes staring right at his amber irises. - "Like, it was cringy, but it was also cool. Depends on who you talk to"

"That doesn't help much..." - Kyoku answered, sighing and once again dropping his head on his desk. - "I could've just acted like I didn't care and it would've been way less embarrassing"

At his words, the girl giggled. She was clearly amused by his situation and she made no effort to hide it. In fact, she even made it clearer. Kyoku looked at her and the other interesting people in the classroom, still ignoring Chifuyu's English class.

'Nakiri Alice, Jinguji Ren and Kyoraku Shunsui' - Kyoku thought as he went over them once again. They had higher stats than the entire class and it showed in their demeanor. They didn't act in any way that made them seem out of the norm. In fact, among everyone in the class, they could be considered the most 'normal', together with him and Hitagi. - 'And their aliases are quite interesting, honestly'

In order, they where the Alchemical Chef, the Singing Ladykiller and the Drunk Swordsman. The only alias Kyoku didn't understand in any way was Alice's, but that was only until he read about her wanting to be a chef before awakening her powers and being accepted in Aoi'mizumi. Ren was a sort of Idol, which explained both the 'Singing' and the 'Ladykiller' parts of his alias. Lastly, Shunsui's family owned a Kenjutsu dojo and he apparently loved sake, in spite of being sixteen.

"I see my class is boring to you, Izumi-kun" - Chifuyu said, clearly annoyed by his lack of care about the class. - "I suppose, then, that you could read the next sentence for the class, right?"

Some people smirked at this, clearly amused by the predicament Kyoku found himself in. But, to most people's surprise, Kyoku remained as uncaring. Standing up from his seat, he looked at the chalkboard and opened his mouth.

"It is not one's pain that separates oneself from others..." - he began reading the sentence in perfect English, shocking both the class and Chifuyu. - "...but one's lack of empathy towards other's pain"

Only after he finished reading the phrase, Kyoku's eyes opened slightly. Wasn't that exactly how it worked? Weren't people divided by their lack of care, of empathy? What was empathy even? Kyoku remembered that time when his friend was cheated on and he was there with him to help him calm down. Was that empathy? Or was empathy something much deeper, much more abstract, than just the actions of 'care' one does?

Weren't actions supposed to say more than words? Then why did those actions of his feel so empty, so fake now? That was when he truly understood. He had never been his friend. They only hanged out together because of their 'social status' and 'convenience'. They were just two pawns of society who didn't really know each other, but acted like they did. Then what was a true friend like? Kyoku thought back to his father and his mother. They truly cared.

That was, perhaps, what a true friend was like. It was like having a sibling or a parent who would, regardless of your faults and mistakes, truly care about you. And perhaps that was what empathy truly was. Just caring, regardless of what you say or do.

"Izumi-kun... Izumi-kun!" - Chifuyu called him, almost shouting. Kyoku was taken out of his thoughts by her voice, sincerely apologizing for his bad habit. - "It's ok, just don't do it again. Thank you for reading, that was perfect English if I've ever heard it before"

Taking his seat once again, Kyoku went back to ignoring the class. Though this time he couldn't really relax, since...

"That was awesome!" - Alice said from right next to him in a whispering scream. - "Where did you learn English so well?!"

"Would you believe me if I said I learned it just now?" - Kyoku asked after sighing tiredly. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy.

He heard a humph from Alice, and when he looked at her, he burst out laughing. The image of Alice inflating both cheeks in a childish pout, looking at him in mock anger, somehow made him feel relaxed. It was weird, considering that he usually had many walls up when talking to people.

"Izumi-kun! One more time you interrupt the class and I'll have to talk to you after class!" - Chifuyu roared, making Kyoku shut his mouth almost instantly. This time, it was Alice who laughed, but it was a contained giggle.

"This is your own fault" - Alice said after calming down. - "You only had to tell me where you learned English so well"

Kyoku could only sigh, since it was partially true. Alas, he had indeed told her the truth, but he wouldn't bother explaining his powers to her. After all, he still didn't know her and as nice as she seemed, he couldn't trust people based on appearances.

"Hmm... let's do it like this, Kyo-chan" - Alice said, not caring about his lack of answer. - "I explain more about the school to you and show you around, and you tell me where you learned English. Deal?"

Kyoku looked at her and seriously considered her offer. Would putting a bit more trust into someone end up backfiring and burning him? Did he have any reason to be so secretive about his powers with someone whose words and attitude were so unassuming?

He wasn't sure. Kyoku was of the impression that everything around him, bar the background characters that most of his classmates appeared to be, was a possible danger. The fact that the same day he got his powers he was involved in a ritual to collect souls didn't really help much, either.

But there was nothing weird about Alice, not even in her Status Board. Then... just why not do it? Why not risk trusting someone? What was the worse that could happen? He would be betrayed, perhaps hurt and he would lose a bit more of the little trust he had on people? Was it really that bad?

"Sure, you got yourself a deal, Alice" - Kyoku said, deciding to let go of his mask for a bit and winking at her.

Alice seemed a bit taken aback by his sudden shift in behaviour, but quickly recovered and smiled. - "You weren't lying... you already know our names"

Kyoku only laughed at that, amused by the shock on her face when he so nonchalantly called her by her name.

*

Lunch break had arrived and Kyoku was finally released from the infinitely boring classes. Not really knowing what to do and realizing he didn't have any food, he looked at the person sitting beside him. He had decided to risk it and trust people... so why not do so fully?

"So, chef wannabe, why don't you begin my tour with the cafeteria?" - Kyoku said to Alice, who looked extremely shocked when she heard his words.

She turned her head so fast it probably hurt and looked at him with extremely open eyes. - "How did you know that?!"

Kyoku once again laughed and just told her that he would answer only when and if she fulfilled her part of the deal. Alice once again pouted, but this time she was looking at him with pure interest in her eyes, something Kyoku failed to notice.

"You're no fun, Kyo-chan!" - she said, standing from her seat and grabbing him by the wrist before pulling him out of the classroom. - "Come on! If we don't hurry, you're gonna miss the good dishes of today!"

That confirmed one thing for Kyoku. No matter what school, what country or what level of normalcy it had, cafeteria food would always suck if you weren't there early. How hard was the life of the bird that didn't wake up early.

While she pulled him by his wrist, which Kyoku didn't complain about, Alice began explaining something very interesting about Aoi'mizumi.

"This school is pretty normal if you don't take into account that everyone has powers of varying natures" - she said while looking forwards instead of at him. - "But there are a few non-written rules here"

As they walked, Kyoku would sometimes look into the classrooms only to see how the students quickly emptied them, rushing towards the cafeteria.

"The most basic of these rules is to not mess with the hierarchy" - she explained while slowing down. - "This school is ruled by the law of the fittest"

Kyoku immediately understood what she meant. Society was the same. Bullies existed in many forms and ages, from elementary school to those in positions of power, and they would always exist. A clear example of this was Terasaka, who tried to make him submit the moment he entered the classroom.

"In our class, 2-A, Shun-chan is at the top of the ladder, followed by me and then Ren-chan" - Alice continued her explanation as they entered a huge area fool of tables that extended to the outside of the building which, combined with the overall appearance and decoration of the place, made it look more like a huge restaurant than a school cafeteria - "I'm not very aware of the state of the entire school, but I do know that nobody messes with our class and class 3-C"

Kyoku was processing the new information and taking in the change in evironment when a sudden pop-up startled him and, once its contents were read, made him grin.

The First Step

Reach the top spot in your class

Rewards:

5x Stat Points

¥100,000

1500 XP Top Of The Ladder

Reach the top spot in Aoi'mizumi

Rewards:

10x Stat Points

¥500,000

5000 XP

It was time to grind.