Military Training

"Professor Li." Satoru's voice was respectful, his demeanor attentive as he stepped closer to her desk.

"You're here, Satoru. Have a seat." Professor Li's tone was warm and inviting, yet carried the authority of someone who knew her students well.

She placed the papers she was holding down gently on her desk, the slight sound of paper settling filling the brief silence.

She adjusted her glasses, the light glinting off the lenses as she looked at Satoru with a mix of concern and care.

Satoru sat down, feeling the weight of her gaze on him.

The office was quiet, the only sound being the faint ticking of a clock on the wall, marking the seconds that seemed to stretch into longer moments.

The room was lined with shelves filled with books and academic journals, each meticulously organized—a testament to Professor Li's meticulous nature.

"Satoru," she began, her voice soft but direct, "have you started working part-time again at night? I noticed you seemed quite drowsy during the entire class today." Her eyebrows knitted slightly, the worry evident in her tone.

Satoru shifted in his seat.

He wasn't surprised that she had noticed; Professor Li had always been perceptive.

Raised in an orphanage, he had learned early on to rely on the kindness of others and the structure of social systems to fund his education.

The scholarships and donations had been his lifeline, but it was his own relentless drive that had truly made the difference.

"No, I just had a bit of trouble sleeping last night," Satoru replied, his voice laced with a hint of apology.

He hadn't expected his momentary lapse in alertness to draw such concern from her. His fingers fidgeted slightly, a subconscious gesture of nervousness.

Professor Li's expression softened slightly, but her concern did not wane. "If you're facing any difficulties, you must let me know," she insisted gently.

"There's an opportunity to apply for a scholarship after the midterms, and with your abilities, you should have no trouble qualifying." Her voice was steady, but there was a hint of urgency in her words, a desire to ensure he was truly okay.

Satoru hesitated for a moment before speaking, weighing his words carefully.

"I appreciate it, Professor, but really, there's no need to worry. I haven't even used last year's scholarship funds yet, and I did quite a bit of part-time work over the break. Besides, living alone doesn't cost me that much." He offered a reassuring smile, hoping to ease her concerns.

Professor Li leaned back slightly, her posture relaxing just a bit, but her eyes remained fixed on him, searching for any sign that he might not be telling the whole truth.

She knew Satoru was a proud student, often reluctant to admit when things were tough. "Alright then," she said after a pause, her voice still gentle. "I just worry you might be pushing yourself too hard, not letting on if something's bothering you."

Satoru chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "You're overthinking it, Professor. I'm fine, really."

The professor nodded, her gaze softening, though still tinged with a hint of concern.

She knew Satoru well enough to understand that he rarely let his guard down.

Despite his challenging circumstances, he never showed signs of self-pity or despair. He was resilient, and his quiet determination often shone through, even in moments like this.

The office fell silent again, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.

For Satoru, his background was something he viewed with a simple clarity.

He never felt lesser because of it, nor did he carry the weight of a complex or troubled past.

He knew what it meant to have the warmth of a mother's love or the guiding hand of a father's care, but having never deeply experienced these, he didn't find himself yearning for them in some single-minded pursuit.

In fact, he felt content with his current life, living independently, free from the complications that might come with a more conventional upbringing.

Professor Li's expression shifted as she suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, there's one more thing… this semester, we'll be having military training." Her words hung in the air, and the casual tone was immediately met with a dramatic response from Satoru.

"What!?" Satoru's reaction was so intense that several nearby teachers glanced up from their desks, curious about the outburst. He quickly realized his mistake.

Offices were no place for loud disruptions.

With an apologetic look, he bowed his head slightly and made a small gesture of apology to the other teachers, who returned to their work with amused smiles.

Lowering his voice, he turned back to Professor Li, his tone urgent and confused. "Why though? We didn't have it last semester, so why now?"

According to the usual practice at DxD University, military training was only organized during the first academic year.

Last year, however, their cohort had been spared this tradition, and everyone had assumed they were off the hook for good.

"It was postponed last semester, not canceled," Professor Li explained with a slight, almost mischievous smile.

"And besides, last semester, someone's physical fitness test…" She let the sentence hang, clearly amused by the thought.

Satoru groaned, rubbing his temples as if trying to fend off a headache. "Alright, alright… the black sheep of the bunch turns out to be me…" he muttered with a sigh, resigning himself to the situation.

Professor Li's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and concern. "You really do need to work on your fitness. Apart from your height and weight, is there anything you actually scored well in?"

Satoru cringed inwardly, knowing what was coming next. "Pull-ups… zero. Did you skip that test?" Professor Li teased, her smile broadening as she flipped through some notes.

"I wouldn't dare skip it," Satoru replied with a hint of mock indignation.

"I jumped up there, but every teacher just shook their head…" His shoulders slumped a bit, a trace of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. He had tried, but physical tests were not his strong suit.

Professor Li chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Alright, enough about that. Just go back and get ready for class. You'll need to brace yourself for the training ahead."

"I understand," Satoru said, standing up and giving her a quick, respectful nod before turning to leave.

As he walked out of the office, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of dread and determination.

Military training wasn't exactly what he had planned for this semester, but perhaps it was the push he needed to improve in areas he had neglected.

With that thought lingering in his mind, he stepped back into the bustling hallway, where the sounds of students chatting and moving between classes filled the air, a constant reminder of the life that continued around him, ever-moving and ever-challenging.

Satoru had barely stepped back into the classroom when Lewis's voice rang out, filled with curiosity. "You're back, Satoru. What took you so long?"

"Was it that long? We haven't even started class yet," Satoru replied nonchalantly as he pulled out his chair and slumped back down onto his desk, trying to catch a few moments of rest.

From across the room, Janne's voice sliced through the air like a knife. "Lazy worm… scum…" she spat, turning around with a venomous glare.

Satoru lifted his head slightly, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Janne's tone was sharper than usual, carrying a distinct edge that felt different from her typical jabs.

There was an intensity to it, something more personal, more fiery. Is she on her period? he wondered, bemused by the sudden surge of hostility.

"Janne," he said, his voice tinged with mock seriousness, "I'm telling you honestly, if it's that time of the month, I'm afraid I can't help you." He had barely finished speaking before his head hit the desk again, eager to resume his nap.

Janne's eyes narrowed, her cheeks flushing with anger.

"What are you talking about... Don't even think about sleeping! You scumbag... teach me this problem." She slammed her textbook down on Satoru's desk, jabbing her finger at a specific question.

Satoru rolled his eyes. So that's what this is about, he thought with a sigh.

She had come to him for help. With a reluctant groan, he pushed himself up, glancing over at the problem she had pointed out.

"Janne, you're in the top ten of our professional rankings, and you're asking me, someone who's barely in the top thirty, to teach you? I might just laugh at you," he said with a smirk, feeling confident in his own understanding of the material this time.

But that confidence was short-lived. In an instant, Janne reached out and pinched a chunk of his arm, twisting it with an impressive, almost vicious precision that had Satoru gasping in pain.

"Ow! Ow! Okay, okay… I'll teach you!" he pleaded, rubbing his arm in defeat.

With a sigh of resignation, Satoru picked up her book and began to explain the solution in earnest, his tone softening.

"This problem isn't actually that difficult; the method is just a bit clever." He shifted his chair closer to her desk, his fingers tracing the steps on the page as he broke down the solution step by step.

As he spoke, the irritation in Janne's eyes seemed to fade slightly, replaced by a reluctant focus on the material.

His explanation was clear and concise, each word carefully chosen to ensure she understood the logic behind each step.

Despite her earlier anger, she found herself nodding along, absorbing the information with a begrudging respect.

Satoru continued, "See, the trick is in recognizing the pattern here. Once you spot that, the rest falls into place pretty easily." His voice was steady, patient, a stark contrast to the playful annoyance he had shown moments earlier.

Janne glanced at him from the corner of her eye, still holding onto a bit of her earlier frustration, but also feeling a grudging appreciation for his clear and thorough explanation.

Why does he always have to be so damn helpful when he's actually paying attention? she thought, unable to fully suppress a small, fleeting smile.