Smiles passes through

Upon entering the school, they were immediately greeted by a teacher.

"Good afternoon! If I'm correct, you're the other two who were sent to this school, right?" the teacher asked them.

"Yes, that's correct," Xin replied in a professional tone. After Xin's response, the teacher said, "Come this way, let's go to the principal's office," leading the two of them to their tasks. The two followed the teacher to the principal's office.

As they walked towards the office, Cassandra once again observed her surroundings, looking into each classroom they passed and glimpsing at the students studying. Some were attentively listening, while others seemed disinterested. When Cassandra noticed these students, she remembered a moment from her past when she was young. Sitting alone on the side of a classroom, unnoticed by anyone, she stared out the window, showing no expression. While other children laughed and played, she was merely passed by. And as she gazed out the window, a disturbing noise slowly grew louder and louder in her ears—

Transition: The flashback abruptly ended, bringing her back to reality as they reached the principal's office.

"Ms. Evangeline, Lucy - School Principal"

was written on the sign in front of the door Cassandra and Xin were about to enter. As they reached this door, they attempted to open it, but... Xin's hand was close to the doorknob, but he seemed to pause, staring at it. He didn't open it and appeared frozen in his stance. Cassandra noticed this after her moment of bewilderment. She tapped Xin's shoulder twice, and then Xin finally opened the door and entered first. Seeing Xin snap out of his trance, Cassandra just shrugged and proceeded to enter as well.

Upon entering the office, the teacher who escorted them had already left. Inside, they saw the principal, slouched over with her arms resting on the desk, her head buried in her arms, positioned as students usually sleep in the classroom. Despite their entrance, the principal remained asleep. Upon closer inspection, they noticed her head was facing sideways, with her face visible and facing the office wall. Seeing this, Cassandra waved her hand in front of the principal's face three times, but she still didn't wake up. So, Xin quickly opened the door to prevent any loud noise, and slowly closed it. As he was closing it, he hastened the motion to create a slightly louder noise, and—

Ms. Evangeline: "OHH!" she exclaimed as she quickly lifted her head upon waking up.

Upon waking, Ms. Evangeline immediately squinted her eyes while looking at the two of them. Unable to recognize Xin and Cassandra, she reached for her glasses that had fallen to the floor, put them on, adjusted her hair, and looked at them again. She squinted once more and lowered her gaze to their IDs. Upon reading who they were, her eyes widened slightly.

Ms. Evangeline: "Oh my gosh, it's you! I am so sorry if I look a bit messy. I've been somewhat haggard these past few days due to paperwork. So much paperwork."

Xin: (closes his eyes with a slightly lowered head) "It's okay. We also apologize for entering without properly greeting you awake and in good condition. We are sorry."

Ms. Evangeline: "Oh, that's alright, ahem, my apologies again for the state you found me in. Let me introduce myself properly and welcome you again. I am Evangeline Lucy, the eleventh principal of this school. I serve the vision of this very institution. I'm delighted to meet you, and welcome to Harmony High School, Ms. Cassandra Hansley and Mr. Xin Tsukamoto, exceptional students from the Department of Psychological Research and Education," said Ms. Evangeline with a smile and a professional tone in her introduction and welcome.

Cassandra: "What an introduction," she thought to herself.

Ms. Evangeline: "And now that we're done with the introductions, let me share with you the tasks assigned to you by this school."

After Ms. Evangeline began explaining their duties and the school's rules they would be serving, Cassandra started zoning out, with various thoughts racing through her mind.

Cassandra: "Huh. My mind is wandering again. I should be focusing on the important things being shared with us, but my mind keeps saying no and drifts away most of the time. Is my existence searching for solitude again? Do I want to return to the dream world I was in yesterday? All my mind wants is isolation from anything it can perceive as having an idea. It wants to spend time outside and be happy, but do I allow myself to do that? That's why I wonder about death. Can my own self follow me? Can I distance myself from half of my being? As a complete existence, can I choose to be incomplete? Can I, free myself from my... self?" she thought to herself, before the page turned dark.

Transition!

Now, Cassandra and Xin are walking towards the first classroom assigned to them. As they walk, both are expressionless, with Xin reading about the classroom they are heading to, and Cassandra simply looking up at the ceiling for no apparent reason. The silence eventually breaks as Xin initiates a conversation about their upcoming visit.

Xin: "So, the first classroom we're visiting is Section 6, the lowest section in this school based on grades. What do you think is their issue? Fatigue or exhaustion? They seem like mentally tired individuals."

Cassandra: (She side-eyes Xin before responding) "Hmm. Both options are the same."

Xin: "That's how it is."

Cassandra: "Maybe they're just sleepy."

Xin: "That's an interesting conclusion."

Cassandra: "We need to be honest, of course."

Xin: "You know, our minds operate differently. We're the ones without friends in school, but our thoughts always diverge, isn't that weird?"

Cassandra: "Eh, probably not," she said, and closed her eyes.

As they continued walking, two students wearing the same uniform passed by them, laughing and smiling, a stark contrast to the expressions shown by Cassandra and Xin. When the two students passed, Cassandra and Xin immediately noticed and simultaneously side-eyed them, almost looking like villains with their glares. However, the two laughing students paid them no mind. So, Cassandra and Xin just continued on their way until they reached the classroom they were heading to.

Upon entering the classroom, Cassandra and Xin noticed that all the students were quiet, staring at them without expression, mirroring the demeanor of Cassandra and Xin themselves.

Chapter 1 ends!