Whew! And isn’t that I'm feeling incredibly good today? I was pretty sure I would feel extremely tired, for not having actually slept last night, as normal people would do, but turned out it was the other way around. I woke up feeling that I had one of those big dreams, you know? In which so many things happen to the point of leaving me philosophical in bed, wondering if everything I’ve been through was indeed real.

And I think the only thing that makes me confident of that, was the conversation I had with Murakami the day before, here at school. If I hadn't talked to her about all this craziness of Aether stuff, I'd probably think I'm freaking out right now.

Speaking of her, Murakami just waved sympathetically at me!

Oh, man~ She's already beautiful with her serious expression, but when she smiles... she reaches another level!

I've known her for six months now, but I’ve never had the opportunity to speak with her until yesterday. Then out of a sudden, I discovered that she’s not only pretty but also a nice girl to talk to, if you don’t small talk to her, of course.

“So, my good friend Kazuki, will you now tell us what the hell happened between you two? I think it’s already time, no?”

Taichi noticed our exchange of glances and was now staring at me indignantly.

And here we go again... phew!

He's probably afraid I'll take the next step and leave them alone in this single life. And, you know what? Fufufu! I’ll go with that! They wouldn't believe this crazy "dream world" story anyway!

“Yes, Taichi. We had an affair. I'm sorry, but that's life for you.”

"Um, right, and where goes the brainwashing you've done on her?"

“Oh, and what makes you think I would have to resort to such low-level tricks to win over a girl?”

“Phew, Kazuki, my friend, I've known you for years, you're a loser in a romance just like me. It wouldn't be overnight that you would simply win a girl's heart, especially when the girl we’re talking about is Murakami!”

Shit... I hate to admit it, but what he's saying has some truth. I've never been good with girls when it comes to romance. Of course, when I don't have that kind of intention, I can normally interact with them. But when the case is the other, I get extremely nervous!

For example, when I met Murakami in the schoolyard, I romanticized the whole situation and, as a result, I got nervous. But when it was the day before, on Aether, I was able to interact normally not only with her but also with Loveta, precisely because I was more focused on the “new world”.

Hmm, I think the only time I romanticized the situation but didn’t get nervous, was when I first met Loveta. I think that happened because I thought it was all just a dream. And so, it caused my morals to disappear, and as a result I almost did that to her!

As I thought, if I had no sense of morals, I would be able to overcome the obstacles of my life.

"Hansuke, do you happen to have any books about how to destroy morality?"

“Hey! Are you really going to ignore me?!”

Hansuke lowers the book he was reading down to his eyes.

“As expected, the apprentice comes to the master, seeking wisdom—Here.”

...And isn’t that he really had one? "The Sweet Taste of Immorality, and How to Achieve It Wisely".

“Remember, if you totally abstain from ethics, you’ll become a beast, and God will punish you again for it. So be sweet, but not too sweet."

"Okay, I'll remember that..."

Well, as long as it helps me…

I put my hand on Taichi's shoulders.

“You know, until yesterday I thought these books were useless, but after I started reading them, I discovered the true potential they hold... Reading one of these you might discover my secret.”

Taichi squirms in the chair.

“No…! I cannot become a pervert like those two!”

Kukuku! The effort he is making to stay right is priceless!

“If I win over Murakami, Hana will be a piece of cake.”

“.........”

Without saying any other word, the bald man looks at the hairy man, who was already holding the perfect book for him.

“Oh, how intriguing, looks like we have a new candidate for apprentice. Let's see, if you get down on your knees a thousand times and praise me like there's no tomorrow, maybe this book is yours.”

“What!? But this is unfair! Kazuki didn't have to do any of that!”

“Of course not. After all, Kazuki lent me the complete trilogy of 'The Ancient Scrolls'. I've never played a game as good as that one!”

Taichi turns his head to the side and starts sucking his thumb and saying things like: "I'm useless", "I don't have any real friends", "My dear Hana is the only one who will bring me happiness in this life", etc.

Hmm, did we get too harsh on him? Nah, it's Taichi, he'll get better any time soon.

SLAMM!

The classroom door slams hard against the wall, and our teacher Saori enters the class.

"I want everyone to shut up right now! I spent another night without being able to sleep at all! Whoever speaks a peep will fail my subject!”

A chill takes over my spine.

She sure is worse than usual. Could it be that besides not being able to sleep, she is in those days...? Yeah, I wouldn't doubt it.

The room freaks out.

“And yes,” she continues “before anyone questions me, we teachers received special permission for this these past few days! Since we are much more stressed than before!” She shows us a contract in her hands.

Yeah... These nightmare episodes are definitely no joke. With each passing day, the world's bad mood only gets worse, and it seems that the adults are being the first ones to suffer from the problem.

“Anyway, there's something else I'd like to talk to you about. Because of the principal, from today onwards we will have a new student with us.” The teacher turns to the door. “Lamya, you may enter the room and make your presentation. As I'm not in the mood, be as brief as possible!”

Wait... a new student? But aren't we already in the middle of the school year? Is she perhaps a transfer student...?

As soon as the teacher insinuates, the new girl enters the class, thus revealing her odd appearance. She had very messy black hair as if she had never combed it in her life, and rather sinister green eyes. Her uniform was also completely clumsy.

What the fuck! For a moment she stared at me and I felt a hell of a chill!

“Good morning, my name is Lamya, and I don't have much to say about myself. Um, my cat died yesterday... and that's all. I'm counting on you from now on!”

“Very good, very good! Faster than I imagined!” Saori gets excited.

“...Man, what's wrong with this girl?” Taichi whispers to me, completely horrified.

“How the hell I’m supposed to know?”