#61 The change

I see, so that's what happened.

When I was done with absorbing all of Asao's memories, I was standing beside the window and observed the situation outside with an absent-minded expression on my face.

I quite pity him, however, I don't regret getting rid of him. I would do it a second time even after knowing his full story.

Thankfully due to absorbing his memories this way, my personality didn't change a bit, maybe I am slightly angry but it could be explained the same way when you feel sad or angry after watching a TV show.

Asao wasn't really a failed experiment, he has gone even further than me, however, Shiro got too greedy and caused Asao's doom. Of course, I can't say that his near-death situation didn't help him to actually comprehend the breathing technique. Simply said, he might have had a potential but I doubt he would be able to actually open those doors with his semi-emotionless state.

The first time he appeared in that room he still didn't know love or hatred, however, when he entered there the second time he already felt "love" for the puppy and he felt "hatred" towards Shiro even if he wasn't aware of that. Maybe his hatred intensified when he saw the outside world, what Shiro took from him by restraining his freedom.

Anyway...Shiro and Kazuki, huh? That's pretty valuable information even though it will be hard to find them with just those names but I also know their appearances. Apparently from Asao's words, they will come for me once they discover that I am alive, well they never actually knew that Asao died. They knew just that he escaped. Speaking of escaping, I wonder what happened to Kazuki...

Well...for now my plans won't change, I will simply graduate from this school and then instead of hiding or waiting for them to discover me, I will go and find them myself.

Their base should be pretty close to where Asao died and where I first appeared.

But I will have to increase my strength first and it would also be good if I could test out my new eyes in a fight.

Hehe, who would have thought that my second life would be such fun...maybe I am turning a bit crazy.

*sigh*

"What are you sighing about?" Student council president Horikita called out to me with his poker face. I wanted to turn around, however, when I was halfway there, I noticed that my sight was much better maybe even better than this morning which meant that my eyes changed once again.

I can't simply change them back without mastering it, but I have a feeling that it is related to that room with enormous metal doors in it. I don't mind showing my vertical pupils but I don't know how to control them and if they suddenly turned back to the rounded pupils while I was talking it would definitely look bad.

If I could turn at them in a good angle, my bangs would be able to cover my eyes.

"Oh? if it isn't the student council president and Tachibana-san. I was just thinking about some entertaining things, regrettably, all of them are outside of the school complex" I said with a disappointed expression while shaking my head.

"Greetings" Tachibana said with a disinterested expression.

"...What kind of entertainment?" Horikita-senpai frowned because he was able to feel my playful yet hostile tone.

"Oh? Senpai is actually interested in my hobbies? I am sorry to disappoint you but it's nothing interesting, just cleaning up some filth." I showed a slightly surprised expression and then answered with an innocent smile.

"Cleaning up...some filth??" Tachibana was unable to understand my meaning but Horikita-senpai perhaps got an idea of what I meant.

"I hope it won't affect the school...Anyway, what are you doing here, during the holidays?" He asked me with a suspicious look while adjusting his glasses.

"There is no need to worry about school. And you are here too, aren't you? I am not forbidden from taking a walk here." I said lightly.

"Taking a walk in the hallways of the school during the holidays? Don't you have any friends? As for us, we have important matters to attend to as representants of student council" Tachibana asked me with a pitying expression and then explained what they are doing here with a slightly proud expression while casting a few glances at Horikita-senpai, however, Horikita-senpai didn't notice it and only frowned at me.

"You seem slightly different, does this change have something to do with you meeting Nagumo?" He ignored Tachibana's unnecessary comment and asked me with a serious expression.

So he already heard about this? As for my different behavior, I guess it's because when I have vertical pupils I feel more aggressive and arrogant. It's quite hard to control considering that I discovered it just today morning.

"Please don't mind it...So, senpai already heard what happened with Nagumo? I actually wanted to talk to you but I don't know if it's the right time..." I said while glancing at Tachibana.

"What? Am I annoyance for you by being here?! Plus don't you think that we don't have any spare time to speak with you?" She noticed my gaze and got slightly angry.

My eyes still haven't changed which slightly surprised me. I wasn't even feeling angry anymore, I was completely calm, yet my eyes haven't changed back. I thought that various emotions can change my pupils but why is it not changing back right now?!

"No, no, no. But what if I was in need of friendly advice from my senpai about romance? And if you don't have spare time why would you stop here to talk to me?" I shook my head with a frightened expression and a playful smile across my face and sarcastically asked her.

"Why you-!" Tachibana noticed my sarcasm and got angry, however, she was quickly interrupted.

"Enough, don't let such small provocative comments muddle your thoughts" Horikita-senpai turned at her and said with his usual serious expression.

"You want to talk about Nagumo, right?" He turned at me and asked me in a low voice.

To be honest, I don't care about him anymore, but I guess it's just because I feel slightly arrogant due to those eyes. I better play it safe.

"Huh? And I really thought that I would get some advice from you..." I joked with a disappointed expression but that quickly changed to a serious one.

"I just want to know what kind of person he is"

"...I recommend you to stay far away from him, however, with what I have heard from other students what happened between you two, he probably won't let you go so easily. I already suspect him for being behind of expelling a lot of students. You should also be careful when you speak to all 2nd-year students, no matter what Class." Horikita-senpai kindly warned me even without asking for something back.

"I see, I see...thank you for such valuable information~" I said with a carefree expression.

"Do you even understand what it means?" Tachibana asked me with a slightly surprised expression after seeing my attitude towards this problem.

"Of course, he must be gathering students from all classes into his camp but I don't really understand why they agree. I guess he has something very valuable or he gave them an extremely tempting offer or promise." I said with a thoughtful expression and with a hand on my chin.

"How do you-?!" Tachibana had surprised expression on her face, I guess what I said was the truth.

"If you know what does it mean, aren't you afraid that he will come after you?" She asked with a curious expression.

"Well, what can I do right now, haha" I spread my arms with a defeated look.

"You can still join the student council" Horikita-senpai said with a sly smile.

"Heh, and become your secretary? I think I will pass for now." I smiled at him and then threw a glance at Tachibana who noticed it and her face instantly became red out of the anger.

"You don't have to be a secretary, someone with your capabilities is suited to be part of the student council. No matter what kind of position."

"President?!" Tachibana looked startled when she heard his words, maybe she thought that we were only joking.

He just looked at her and frowned, which made her mouth shut.

"*sigh* And what kind of capabilities do I even have? I am pretty lazy, you know. I would definitely be only burden for the student council. Plus senpai still owes me one, don't you remember? That's why I am not afraid, haha" I laughed off his invitation.

"Well, I will go now. I am pretty sure, you two also have plenty of work to do so I don't want to keep you here with a meaningless chit-chat" I told them and started to slowly walk away from them.

"Walker, you might not be afraid of Nagumo, however, it's not only about you. I have heard a few rumors, I don't know if they are true but let me warn you that Nagumo isn't someone who plays fair." Horikita-senpai tried to give me sincere warning but when I heard his words I stopped at the spot.

"If he wants to play a game with those rules it would be better if senpai could talk some sense into him." I spoke out in a dead voice with my back facing to them.

Horikita-senpai narrowed his eyes in a very serious manner when he noticed the change of air in the hallway.

"Huh? Why?" Tachibana who didn't seem to notice the change, asked with a curious expression.

I turned around.

"Because I am not a merciful person either!" When I said that, the cold wind blew into the hallway through the opened windows even though it was hot weather outside and my bangs started to fly in the wind, exposing my vertical slits pupils combined with a slightly crazy smile.

This caused both of them to wide open their eyes in shock and Tachibana even took a step back.

"Well, it's your call if you decide to talk some sense into him or not. Goodbye senpai~" I put my hands into pockets and left.