Season 1: Arc'The Training 'Ep 2_Ch/1

SEASON ONE: Episode 2_CH/1[The secret of the tattoo]

The secret of the tattoo."

Calendar:02/01/1867

Time: 06:58 Am

City: Kyoto Suburbs

Location: Inside the "Purity" Organization School

Beginning:

In the garden of the "Purity" School, a red rose sparkled under the cold sunlight, carrying dewdrops like tiny pearls. The gardener was carefully watering it, while the garden was filled with flowers of various colors: red, yellow, green, purple, and more, creating a stunning natural painting.

The gardeners were spread throughout the garden, some trimming the withered leaves around the flowers with caution and precision, while others watered the lower trunks of the scattered trees. The atmosphere was cold, but their continuous work made them move with energy, as if the warmth of their enthusiasm overshadowed the morning chill.

Men's Clothing: The men wore simple long-sleeve shirts made of linen in light earthy colors, blending harmoniously with the surrounding nature. They wore slightly loose long pants in dark blue, and jackets made of sturdy wool in olive or charcoal blue colors. The jackets had front buttons and small pockets to carry tools. Gray woolen socks and moss-green leather shoes completed their practical appearance, while some wore wide-brimmed hats, and others wore straw hats for protection from the sun and dew.

Women's Clothing: As for the women, they wore long, wide dresses with a simple design that allowed them to move freely. The dresses were made of linen in colors such as dark blue or dark yellow, with long, loose sleeves. Their straw hats were decorated with ribbons or small flowers, adding a touch of beauty to their appearance. They wore pink woolen socks to protect themselves from the cold and comfortable light black leather shoes with low heels suitable for work. Their look was completed with loose woolen jackets in light pink or purple, adding warmth and an elegant charm to their appearance.

They were all working hard and diligently, reflected in the expressions on their faces that showed their love for what they were doing. Their movements were precise and coordinated, whether they were watering the plants, trimming the leaves, or cleaning the garden. Each gardener seemed like a part of a harmonious painting; the sounds of water, the cutting of branches, and the rustling of the wind playing with the treetops created a quiet symphony that gave the scene a sense of peace.

Amidst it all, the sparkling eyes and skilled hands told a story of endless passion.

The sky was completely clear, devoid of any clouds, while the sun shone with its orange rays, bathing the horizons in a warm and gentle light. The colors of the sky blended in fiery orange gradients, interspersed with touches of golden yellow and crimson red, as if it were a painting created by nature with meticulous craftsmanship.

As the colors of the flowers spread out like a painting, harmonizing with the clear sky, the palace rose with its majestic façade, as if it were embracing the garden as part of its being.

The palace was built from gleaming white stone, and its glass windows sparkled with the balconies adorning each window's side, under the sunlight that reflected its brilliance, as if they were eyes carefully and calmly watching over the garden.

Among the dozens of windows decorating the façade, a small window stood out, closed with light curtains gently moving with the breeze of the garden. It was as if the wind had gently carried the camera, sneaking through the gaps in the curtains, passing through the clear glass, revealing the secrets hidden inside the school.

The room sparkled with daylight reflecting off the white-painted wooden floor, covered by a medium-sized square blue rug decorated with golden flowers. The walls were a dark blue, adorned with golden, intricate patterns on their sides, adding a touch of luxury.

The ceiling was a pure white, and in the center, a luxurious crystal chandelier hung in a classic style, decorated with a bronze frame and golden embellishments. The hanging crystals ranged from white to light blue, reflecting the light wonderfully.

On the wall above the bed, there were small paintings that adorned the space, some depicting towering mountains, while others showed purple and yellow flowers, with a modern clock hanging above them.

The bed was placed in the center of the room, of medium size and comfort. Its frame was made of oak wood coated with a golden layer, decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays. On the headboard and footboard of the bed, there were hand-carved engravings of flowers and plants, decorated with bright white paint.

The bedding was soft and comfortable, made of cotton. The bed covers ranged from dark blue to light blue, with four pillows: two large and two medium-sized, each decorated with blue covers embroidered with light blue patterns. The cover was made of luxurious silk, while the sleeping covers were made of dark blue velvet fabric with light blue lace trim.

Next to the bed, there were small nightstands matching the height of the bed. They were round in shape, with a wide surface and two small drawers for storage. On each nightstand, there was a small classic-style electric lamp, a small round and decorated clock, a small decorative box for storing items, tissues, a small glass water jug with a glass cup for drinking water.

There was an elegant vanity table in the middle of the window and balcony area of the room, of medium size, with a large mirror fixed to the table in a decorated frame with lights gently shining in the middle of the night. On the surface of the table, there were bottles of luxurious perfumes belonging to women, along with three white hairbrushes decorated with golden patterns. There were also small decorated boxes, a hand mirror, and some beauty items like lipstick, lip balms, and eyeliner. On the sides of the table, there were two small candles made of bronze, with dark blue fabric napkins adorned with golden patterns. In the corner, there was also a small vase decorating the table.

On the left wall of the room, there was a medium-sized wardrobe made of oak wood, decorated with golden inlays. The wardrobe had two doors, one long and the other short, with three drawers beneath the short door. The long door was singular, and all the doors were decorated with floral engravings, while the handles were made of brass coated in gold.

In the closed balcony area, there was a small round table made of oak wood with two matching chairs, both made of the same wood, with some parts painted in gold. On the table's surface, a white silk cloth draped down, with a smaller dark blue cloth underneath, along with a vase, a luxurious teapot, and two cups with small saucers, all placed on an elegant tray, along with a cloth for the sugar and milk holder and a small teaspoon.

Near that table, there was a medium-sized writing desk, designed to fit the room's size. It was rectangular, made of oak wood, and had small drawers for storing study materials, books, papers, pens, and some personal items. On the desk's surface, there were new textbooks, correspondence management materials, a pen holder with both modern and classic pens, a new ink bottle, a small clock, and a small lamp fixed to the wall of the desk.

Next to the door of the room, there was a coat rack, and the door itself was white, decorated with small classic patterns that added a touch of luxury.

In the center of the bed, Maria slept peacefully, her face covered by the sleeping covers. There were three pillows around her, but one large pillow was missing. In a quiet moment, Maria gently pulled the covers back to reveal her face.

However, instead of showing her beautiful face, her feet were the first to catch the eye, with her toenails painted dark blue, as if she were still in a world of dreams.

The camera began to move slowly backward, revealing the rest of Maria's body, which had been hidden behind the covers, until it finally reached her face. Her face was peaceful and calm, with her childlike beauty glowing in the dim light that filtered through the window. She was hugging the missing pillow with one hand, as if gently squeezing it, while her other hand was extended above her head in an inverted sleeping position. Despite this odd position, her face radiated beauty so strongly that, in the intensity of admiring it, one might completely forget how she was sleeping; all that drew attention was the charm of her captivating features.

At the same moment, in the same place, black shoes with medium heels made a soft sound on the shiny wooden floor. The footsteps suddenly stopped in one of the hallways leading to the students' bedrooms. Her gaze was directed toward the open balcony at the end of the closed corridor, and then she entered the hallway with quiet steps.

The woman, or the governess as she was called, took her steps lightly inside the corridor. Her slightly plump body moved with grace despite her walk, which had started to make a faint sound as she stepped on a luxurious red carpet adorned with golden patterns. She held her hands in front of her body, and her long black dress with long sleeves was decorated with small embellishments. She wore a long blue apron that covered most of the dress, and a small white hat adorned with light green embroidery and ribbons. She wore white silk gloves and comfortable black leather shoes with small heels. Her dark brown hair was carefully tied, and on her wrist, she wore a modern watch that appeared to be expensive.

The long corridor stretched until it reached the open balcony, where the sheer white silk curtains danced gently with the breeze. Beside the balcony, there was a small table with a vase placed on it.

The walls of the corridor were covered with dark green wallpaper, decorated with details of intertwined flowers in dark pink and light blue. The ceiling was high and pristine white, with two crystal chandeliers hanging in the space between the beginning and the end of the corridor, glowing from the sunlight that streamed in through the open balcony door.

On the walls, dim electric lamps were scattered, while the twelve bedrooms were arranged on opposite walls. Six rooms on the first wall and the other six on the opposite wall. The colors and decorations were similar in all the rooms, and above their doors, there were numbered cards bearing the following numbers: 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561.

On either side of the corridor, there were landscape paintings scattered, surrounded by plants grown in large clay pots, adding a touch of life and tranquility to the space. The atmosphere in the corridor was calm, enveloped in a deep silence that was only broken by the soft footsteps of the governess. The light that filtered through the balcony created a warm and mysterious atmosphere on the shiny floor, enhancing the rich classical ambiance that emanated from every corner of the school.

She stopped in the middle of the corridor, slowly opened her eyes, revealing her blue pupils clearly. The features of her face showed signs of being in her forties, with stern and strong expressions. She applied dark lipstick to her lips, then raised her wrist, which was wearing an expensive wristwatch, and looked at the hands. Her gaze stopped at the time, which read 06:59:58.

She slowly lowered her hand, clasped it again in front of her body, and then looked at the doors of the rooms from the corner of her eyes. Her expressions were silent and harsh, as if in a state of anticipation, waiting for something she knew very well.

At that moment, the small clock placed on the left bedside table appeared. Its hands matched exactly with the time on the governess's watch, then the time began to move slowly until it reached 7:00 AM.

At that very moment, amidst the heavy stillness that enveloped the room, the sound of the small clock on the bedside table chimed. Its delicate hands danced around the seventh hour, while its metal base gently vibrated with each pulse of sound.

The sound echoed in the air, sneaking between the silence as if announcing the beginning of a new day. The faint light seeping through the closed curtains flickered with every chime, as though the entire room had awakened with the sound.

But this chime was not alone; at the moment its sound peaked, similar echoes resonated from the adjacent rooms. It was as if the clocks in the entire corridor had agreed to start together, announcing the seventh hour in a majestic coordination.

In the long corridor connecting the bedrooms, the sounds of the chimes overlapped in a strange way, some sharp and fast like the beat of an anxious heart, others slow, as if yawning with the start of the day. The sound bounced off the decorated walls, creating a harmonious rhythm, almost like random music filling the space, sending successive vibrations that spread throughout the entire school.

As the irritating chime reverberated through the room, Maria's displeased features began to show on her face. Her brow furrowed slightly, while her lips relaxed as if expressing her dissatisfaction even in her sleep. She breathed slowly, trying to escape the annoying sound that was beginning to pierce the stillness of her morning.

Little by little, the sound began to fade; one clock after another stopped, leaving behind a silence tinged with anticipation, as if the entire mansion was waiting for the next moment when life would begin to move, as if everything in the place was living in sync with the rhythm of those clocks.

Maria took a deep breath, as if her body were trying to hold onto the last moments of rest before she slowly opened her eyes, as though forcing herself to face reality. Her heavy lashes hesitated to separate, while her face remained caught between deep drowsiness and a creeping irritation, as if she were refusing to engage in a new day.

The bed she lay on was like a cozy nest of luxury; dark blue silk covers intertwined with soft feather pillows, while the wooden bed frame, meticulously carved, was adorned with classic engravings reflecting the grandeur of the room. Even with all this comfort, the bed couldn't shield her from the annoying sound of the clock that filled the air.

She stretched her arms sluggishly and let out a long yawn, as if protesting this early morning. She sat at the edge of the bed in an awkward manner, her back slightly hunched and her shoulders drooping, as if she couldn't yet rid herself of the weight of sleep still clinging to her body.

With half-closed eyes, she slowly looked around, as if trying to absorb her surroundings through the morning haze. She gazed at the room bathed in soft morning light; the light curtains through which the sun's rays began to sneak, and the side table where the annoying clock still insisted on performing its task. In her mind, she thought, "Isn't the clock too old to be making such a sound?"

Finally, Maria turned her gaze to the clock that continued to chime incessantly. She furrowed her brows in anger and let out a sharp sigh from deep within. Her angry look was enough to make anyone believe the clock had committed a crime against her, as if it were an unforgivable enemy.

Maria sat on the edge of the bed, still carrying the remnants of sleep, as if sleep didn't want to leave her yet. She slowly closed her eyes and rested her head on the soft pillow beside her, as if seeking to return to the peaceful embrace of sleep she had just left. She whispered to herself in annoyance, "Just a few more minutes..." as if those few minutes could restore her morning tranquility.

But the stillness that had enveloped the room didn't last long; suddenly, the small clock on the table trembled with an unnatural motion. Its hands began to spin at a maddening speed, as if some hidden force had awakened within it. The clock bent slowly, as if watching Maria, its numbers glinting under the faint morning light.

The clock noticed that Maria had returned to sleep, so it paused for a moment, as if thinking about what to do. Suddenly, it rose off the surface of the table, floating in the air with an unnatural lightness. It slowly approached Maria, like an unseen angry creature, determined to drag her out of her sleep. The chime that had stopped resumed again, but this time it was closer and more annoying, as if it aimed to wake her up with all its might.

Maria felt something near her face, as if the air itself was moving. She slowly opened her eyes to see the clock hovering directly in front of her. Its hands were moving nervously, and the faint light emanating from it gleamed in a frightening way, as if it had taken on a ghostly quality. It looked as though an invisible spirit was carrying it, making it swing angrily through the air.

In just a second, after Maria processed the situation, her scream shattered the silence. She jumped out of bed as if fire had ignited within her, her fleeting gaze meeting the clock still angrily hovering in the room. She rushed toward the door, flinging it open violently, and ran into the corridor, her steps quick and unsteady, as if fleeing from something terrifying.

Inside, the clock suddenly stopped floating, spinning in place as if pondering what had just happened. Its hands were moving slowly now, as if questioning what had just occurred. Even in its silence, the clock carried a mix of anger and disbelief, as if it couldn't believe Maria had escaped from it so quickly.

Maria stood in the hallway, breathing heavily, her eyes nervously darting behind her. Despite fleeing the room, she couldn't shake the feeling that the clock was still watching her, as if it were hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reappear.

The long corridor connecting the bedrooms was filled with the sounds of anxious footsteps and doors being violently opened. The students emerged from their rooms one by one, wearing the same confused and frightened expressions that had appeared on Maria's face. They whispered in fear, their eyes darting around as if trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Their faces were pale, and their eyes were filled with astonishment and concern. All of them were still wearing their pajamas:

The girls: Silk pajamas in light colors, long-sleeved shirts with pants that reached their ankles, topped with a heavy cotton robe in light shades with lace embroidery.

The boys: They wore similar pajamas, long-sleeved shirts in light colors made of wool, with long pants reaching their ankles made of the same fabric.

Their hair was disheveled, as if they were still in the depths of sleep. One of them held a pillow with a trembling hand, while another clutched a pillow as if shielding themselves from something invisible. Another carried a slipper as if it were a defensive weapon.

Suddenly, their whispers were cut off by a stern voice from the end of the corridor. "What took you so long to wake up? And why do you look like this?" The governess stood there, her posture upright, and her facial features sharp as if carved from stone. Her elegant uniform gave her an aura of authority, and her carefully styled dark brown hair added to her dignity. Her cold gaze swept over the students with eyes full of power.

Everyone stopped moving as if time had frozen. They looked at her with wide eyes, some lowering their heads in embarrassment or fear, while others took a step back. Even Maria, who was still breathing heavily, felt her feet grow heavy as if they were glued to the ground, unable to move.

"Is this the time for playing? You are students here, not actors in a play!" she said in a sharp voice that echoed through the corridor, as if her words touched the walls and returned to ring in their ears. She raised an eyebrow dryly and looked at each one of them individually, her gleaming eyes seeming to challenge them to say a single word.

Some tried to speak but immediately withdrew when their eyes met her strong gaze, which left them no room to escape. Others exchanged worried glances with each other, as if waiting for one of them to be brave enough to respond. Maria, still thinking about the flying clock, opened her mouth to speak, but she felt the words escape her, as if they were hiding behind her lips.

Within moments, Maria composed herself, took a deep breath, and then spoke again in a low but firm voice: "Why is the clock flying like that, Miss Constance? What's going on?" The other students in the corridor looked at her, as if they were breathing a sigh of relief, hoping that Maria had said what they had been unable to express.

Miss Constance raised an eyebrow in surprise, but her facial expression remained stiff. She noticed how the students looked at Maria with admiration and how Maria herself had dared to ask the question. This intrigued her, but she showed no reaction to it. Instead, she answered Maria's question in her dry voice, which lacked any concern: "Oh, yes, I should have told you about that flying clock."

At that moment, the student who had been holding the slipper gathered some courage, but the tension was still evident in his expression and his trembling voice: "And... what do you mean, Miss Constance, by... the flying clock?" His gaze toward the governess was filled with fear, as if his body had shuddered from an invisible internal chill.

Miss Constance gave a slight smile, but it was brief and cold, then opened her mouth and spoke in a voice as cold as ice: "That is not an ordinary clock. It was originally just a regular clock, but it underwent an invisible modification." She paused for a moment, looking at the students carefully, as if making sure they understood every word she was saying. Then she continued: "A light spell was added to it, an ancient and powerful spell. This spell is not just magic, but a radiant energy that causes it to interact with the world around it in an incomprehensible way."

She fell silent for a moment, watching their expressions as if waiting for them to grasp what she had just said and react to the gravity of her words.

Miss Constance continued with a cold smile, her lips tightening slightly as she looked at the students with her harsh eyes: "The clock is no longer just a timekeeping device. After the spell was cast on it, it is now capable of flying, moving, and even influencing the reality around it." She paused for a moment, then continued in her cold voice: "It is a mysterious entity that cannot be easily controlled, and it's best if you wake up early before it rings. Or wake up when it rings, because it won't leave you until it has completed its task. Oh! And also, it rings at the time it's set for, and none of you can change the alarm."

The students' eyes widened in shock, some began to move nervously, while others muttered to themselves, staring at Miss Constance as if they couldn't believe what they had just heard. The same question echoed in all of their minds: "Why? And why now?"

One of the young men at the far end looked irritated, and he raised his voice angrily as he turned to return to his room: "That's enough! I'm not giving up my sleep for some stupid clock!" His eyes burned with resentment. "I'm the idiot who didn't deal with that clock before all this happened!" He said it while turning his body away from everyone, closing his eyes as if he was escaping from his thoughts.

The young man entered his room and slammed the door behind him. It was only a brief moment before the students heard the sound of things crashing inside the room. The door suddenly opened, and the young man rushed out, running toward Miss Constance, his face pale and his eyes wide with terror, as if his body couldn't stop moving despite his feet shaking from fear.

The students exchanged confused looks, including Maria, who was watching the situation intently. One of the girls stepped forward and asked with concern, "What happened to you?" The young man was so terrified that his eyes barely focused, as if he was seeing something he couldn't defeat. He then opened his mouth with a broken voice, as if trying to gather his strength: "W-when I tried to go back to sleep, the clock tried to stop me. I pushed it away forcefully, and I think that's what made it angry. That's when it started attacking me like a crazy gorilla that escaped from a mental hospital!"

Miss Constance didn't show any immediate reaction, but her expression shifted slightly, as if she remembered something. Then she said in a calm voice, as if recalling something she had forgotten: "Oh! Yes, I forgot that too." She paused for a moment before adding, "The clock can attack as well, and it can think of strategies to kill you too."

The young man hiding behind Miss Constance looked on in terror, his eyes darting in every direction as if searching for an escape. Miss Constance felt his movements behind her, so she took a small step away from him, then turned and quickly left the corridor. Her steps were firm and steady, as if bringing an end to any tension in the air. Before leaving the corridor, she said in her cold voice, without looking at them, still turning her back: "Prepare for your first day at the School of Purity, and breakfast is ready. So, hurry." Her words fell coldly like winter rain, devoid of any incentive for response or discussion.

After she left, the sound of her high-heeled shoes echoed on the wooden floor covered with carpet, the sound sticking to the corridor walls in a silence filled with tension. The students began entering their rooms one by one, but they walked as if on tiptoe, their steps heavy as if they didn't dare move the air around them. There was hesitation in every step, their eyes filled with exhaustion and worry. Some dragged their feet as if the weight of what had happened was still pressing on them, while others, even though they had entered their rooms, didn't fully close the doors behind them, as if expecting something or perhaps fearing that this place would trap them at any given moment.

When Maria approached her room, exhaustion was evident in her eyes. Her hair was scattered messily on her face, and her pale features betrayed the hours she had spent in constant worry. Despite that, she walked steadily, but it wasn't the strength she was known for; instead, exhaustion controlled her movements, clearly showing in every step. She paused for a moment in front of the door, standing there as if lost in deep thought, then let out a light sigh, as if breathing relief after a struggle. She gently pushed the door open, the soft sound that followed seemed to express the hesitation she wasn't ready to shake off yet. She entered the room, but the door remained slightly open, as if she was watching the shadow that followed her.

Later on that day

At the school of "Purity"

In one of the other dormitory hallways

the door was knocked on loudly, the sound echoing throughout the place. Then the door was suddenly thrown open with force by the owner of the room who had been disturbed by that annoying knock. The person who had been banging on the door so harshly was none other than him.

Maria stood there, her body slightly leaning forward, her shoulders a bit hunched, with a silly, childlike expression. She smiled blankly, her eyes widening innocently with a faint gleam behind them. Near her, Yota stood with a gentle smile, his eyes closed, one hand casually behind his back as if his body were following no rules at that moment.

Maria spoke in her cheerful, happy voice, gently raising her hand as if she were trying to tell the world something fun: "Oh, Tsuyo-chan…"

But before she could finish, Tsuyoko slammed the door shut forcefully in Maria's face, causing her to freeze in place, and Yota, who looked a little confused, did the same. Maria blinked in surprise, her smile still in place, but now there was a clear look of bewilderment on her face. As for Yota, he seemed alarmed by his little sister's actions but tried to remain calm. He looked at the door and said, not directly addressing Maria: "I apologize for my sister's behavior, you know how her moods can be when she wakes up. Now, what should we do to make her happy again?"

Maria's expression changed; at first, it seemed like she had realized something, and then it shifted into a thoughtful expression. She placed her hand on her chin as if searching for a solution, and a "hmm" sound escaped her mouth, signaling deep thought.

In just a few seconds, her expression suddenly changed as if she had figured out the solution. She looked at Yota with a childlike smile and said, "Don't worry, I'll knock on the door gently."

Maria approached Tsuyoko's door, raising her hand in a ready position, bringing it close to the door as if preparing to carry out something very important. But suddenly, things changed, and Maria began knocking on the door forcefully, as if she were a killer trying to scare her prey. Her words echoed down the hallway: "Tsuyo-chan, open the door!" As she knocked violently, Yota placed his hands over his head in complete surprise, frustrated by Maria's crazy behavior. He knew full well that Tsuyoko's anger was not to be taken lightly.

A group of students in the hallway, along with some servants, watched the situation in bewilderment, their eyes frozen on Maria as she continued to knock loudly, without the slightest care.

Yota quickly intervened, trying to calm the situation, slightly out of breath from the tension: "This isn't knocking gently, this is a disaster! Enough with the knocking, Maria! This will upset Tsuyoko and make things worse."

Maria suddenly stopped knocking on the door, looked at Yota with a vacant expression in her eyes, and simply said, "Huh?"

Yota sighed in despair, his hands on his head as if he'd lost hope, and said in a calm but worried voice: "I told you, we'll find another way to bring Tsuyoko's smile back, so please stop knocking like that."

Maria looked at Yota with a questioning gaze, as if trying to decode what he meant, while silence filled the air for a short moment. In just a few seconds, her expression changed suddenly, as if she had realized what Yota meant. She smiled a small smile and said in a spontaneous tone: "Oh, I get it now."

Yota sighed in relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart, thinking that things had settled. But that relief didn't last long. Suddenly, with a childlike tone, Maria said innocently: "I have to stop knocking gently, I should knock harder!"

Yota's eyes widened in shock, as if Maria's words had struck his heart. He stared at her in disbelief before quickly turning to the door, which Maria had already turned toward, and then began knocking harder than before, her loud words piercing the silence of the hallway: "Tsuyo-chan, open the door!" Her voice was filled with innocence and a childish echo.

A small scream escaped from Yota, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets from confusion and panic. He said, trembling, "Maria-chan, please stop doing that!"

But Maria, as if she couldn't hear his voice, continued banging on the door with even more force, completely absorbed in her own world. At that moment, Tsuyoko's door suddenly burst open, surrounded by an aura of anger radiating from her shoulders and behind her. Her expression was furious, her eyes burning red like fire.

Everyone froze in place. Maria stood next to Yota, her face innocent, as if she didn't realize the severity of the situation. As for Yota, his face was filled with fear, as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest. What made it worse was what Maria said, in absolute innocence: "Oh, Tsuyo-chan" (then she pointed a finger at Yota), and added with precise details: "Yota asked me to knock on the door in that annoying way."

Yota looked at Maria quickly, his eyes filled with deep concern, shivering in place. His gaze seemed to say, "This is how you sell out your friend from the very first moment!"

At that moment, Tsuyoko appeared before them like an angry beast, her red eyes pulsing with rage, surrounded by an aura of malice. Yota and Maria stood before her, looking tiny in comparison to her immense power, slowly lifting their heads to clearly see Tsuyoko. Tsuyoko suddenly raised her hand, her fists clenched as if she were about to pounce on them. Yota and Maria stood there, seemingly ready to take a painful blow, both closing their eyes at the same time as if they had resigned themselves to their inevitable fate.

A few seconds passed, feeling like time had frozen, but neither of them felt the pain. They both opened one eye in fear, trying to sneak a glance, only to discover that Tsuyoko had started to loosen her grip. Her expression was filled with sadness and resignation, as if the strength that had filled her had suddenly evaporated.

They were in shock, unable to understand what had just happened. Tsuyoko slowly moved away from them and closed her room door behind her. She walked forward, surrounded by an aura of sadness and resignation, as if she were walking in a world separate from theirs.

Yota and Maria continued to watch her with their eyes, silently wondering about the reason for this sudden change. Yota spoke with a questioning tone, looking at the spot where Tsuyoko had disappeared: "What happened to her? I clearly remember, when she was angry, she never backed down from hitting or cursing, but this time was different."

Maria replied with the same questioning tone, her expression showing her surprise at what had just happened: "You're right, (pauses as she processes something) could it be that she faced the flying clock? And the clock defeated her?"

Yota responded thoughtfully, his eyes still focused on the place where Tsuyoko had passed, with a questioning expression on his face: "Hmm, I think so. Tsuyoko hates losing a lot. (Then he turned his gaze to Maria, and his expression changed to one of warning) Maria, please don't ask Tsuyoko about the flying clock, if she was defeated by it. I'm warning you, Maria."

Maria turned her head towards Yota, her expression shifting from surprise to sarcasm, with a mocking tone creeping into her words: "What do you think, that I'm dumb enough to ask her about such a sensitive topic? To her? No way!" She then waved her hand dismissively in front of Yota's face, as if she didn't care at all.

Yota was relieved by Maria's words, sighing in comfort, and closing his eyes for a moment as if savoring the quiet moment that followed. Then he said in a calm voice, but filled with warning: "We need to motivate her in a subtle way, so she doesn't realize we know the reason for her sadness. And remember, don't say anything negative in front of her. Do you understand?"

Maria looked at him with an understanding expression, as if she fully grasped what he meant, then replied confidently: "You're right. Okay, let's go then." She turned her face forward, placed her hand near her mouth to amplify her voice, and shouted loudly to Tsuyoko, who had already passed them and was walking away as Maria started to follow her: "Tsuyo-chan! I have a question for you! Have you been defeated by the flying clock?"

Yota's eyes widened in shock, and he couldn't stop himself from running quickly behind Maria. His face reflected his confusion, and his eyes were wide with surprise. He was worried that Maria had crossed the line, so he hurriedly tried to catch up with her before she caused an even bigger problem.

I've published the second episode of the first chapter, even though I wanted to finish it and make it a complete episode. But I preferred to leave it as a chapter and share it with you, and I'll post the remaining part of the second episode next time. I understand that you might get bored, and I hope you engage more with the story. Don't forget to share your thoughts on what you've read. Thank you for 1k views!