[ Open Book ]

"So, where were you?" asked Nora.

She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hold an authoritative pose.

It would've worked if he had been anyone else, but such things couldn't get to him.

"Like I told you in the hallways, I was at the library," said Geoffrey.

They had moved to the disciplinary committee's room; it was gigantic.

It looked like a 1% club room, gold and silver everywhere one looked. The chairs around the long table could've been described as thrones and he would've believed it.

It was only him, Nora and a few other disciplinary members, most of the chairs empty.

"Where's the president?" asked Geoffrey.

Nora frowned, visibly upset.

"He's busy."

Geoffrey nodded, looking through the room once more.

He got up, walking around the table.

There was one chair at the end that looked bigger than the others, and more detailed.

"Where are you going?! I'm not done," said Nora.

Geoffrey reached the bigger chair, crossing his arms on his chest while holding a thinking pose.

"Hmm..." he said.

"I'm not done, I said!"

Geoffrey sighed.

"You can't command authority by simply talking louder. You need to calm down."

She was bright red, an ever-burning fire ablaze in her eyes, her mouth opened, unsure how to even respond.

"You..." she said, trailing off.

"Also, he doesn't seem that busy to me," said Geoffrey, still looking at the empty chair.

Through his rainbow-colored eyes he could see it bright as day, the smoke.

It was always present, no matter where he went. 

The gift given by Death was one full of mysteries, and at times he wished he could turn it off, but it was now part of his life—or death.

While the colorful smoke came in different shapes or forms, he could tell when it came from a person.

Sitting in that chair, he could see it clear as day.

Someone was there.

"Are you going insane?!" said Nora.

However, a clapping sound came from the empty chair, as a veil of darkness was taken off, revealing a student underneath.

"It's fine, Nora. He already knows. I'm guessing his gift is of the perception type."

He laughed, a bright smile showing on his face.

Huge bags under his eyes betrayed his lack of sleep, and his uniform being wrinkled told how he must've slept in this very room quite a few times. 

That, and the blanket neatly folded on the couch against the opposite wall.

"We could use someone like you, it could help prevent a lot of things," he said.

"I'm not interested in joining the disciplinary committee," replied Geoffrey.

"Are you sure? Perception types are rare, it could really be useful," he replied.

"President!" pleaded Nora.

"I've told you many times to just call me Natsu..." he said, scratching the back of his head.

That's a true leader. If only Peter could take notes from him.

"So, I heard what happened to your friend Leo," said Natsu.

"He's my classmate, we aren't that close," replied Geoffrey.

Geoffrey pulled a chair next to the president and sat down, Nora doing the same on the opposite side.

It was only them three, and the smoke confirmed it, although he never could be too sure.

"So, you were at the library?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"You met Lox?" he asked.

Geoffrey sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a moment while holding his nose ridge.

"Sorry, sorry," quickly replied Natsu. "no more tests. Anyway, I do get the feeling that even if you lied, you wouldn't fall for such things."

Natsu leaned back in his chair, cracking his neck gently.

"Alright, Geoffrey. Do you know anything about what happened to Leo?"

"Like I said earlier—"

"That's not what I mean."

"President, we don't know if he—" started Nora.

"It's fine. They arrived a few days ago, and we've been monitoring them. Especially Geoffrey here, who's hard to miss with his colorful hair floating around."

"What are you monitoring us for?" asked Geoffrey.

Nora's disapproval look didn't mean much, as Natsu ignored it completely.

"There's an ecosystem in this school, and you guys are the most vulnerable. There are numerous factions and they'll approach you soon enough."

"As far as I can tell, the disciplinary committee is a faction too."

Natsu's eyebrows raised, his face brightening as he burst into a booming laughter.

"President!" whispered Nora.

"Hahaha! You're good, Geoffrey! Yes, just like us!"

He grabbed his own heart, trying to calm himself down.

"How's your class doing?" asked Natsu, once quiet.

"Good so far," replied Geoffrey.

"Good. Good. Keep an eye open. I know you don't want any part of the disciplinary committee, but you'll need us eventually."

Natsu's voice became lower, and slowly lost all the brightness it carried.

"See, some people like us believe that everyone should pull each other up, so that eventually we can face the final trial and win it. We've carefully planned for such an event for a very long time."

"How long?" asked Geoffrey.

"Years," he replied.

"Yet you're still second years," said Geoffrey.

Their uniforms were those of second years. While Nora's uniform looked perfect, Natsu's showed he had his for quite a while.

From the buttons to the fabric's color, it didn't look like he had just gotten it for this new year. 

I did notice a lot of second years with used uniforms, the possibility that they simply saved money by not buying a new one was there. However, this confirms that some of them have been second years for a while.

"I've been a second year for six years now. Nora just started her second year for the first time."

"Why?" asked Geoffrey.

"Why am I still a second year?" 

Natsu rubbed his eyebrows, in thought, while Nora whispered his name with a pleading tone again.

"Meh, it's fine. He'll figure it out soon enough, anyway. We try to let first years acclimate to the school. You all just died, after all. Back when I first joined the disciplinary committee six years ago, there was a very tense political climate."

"Political climate?" asked Geoffrey.

"The factions. They don't care about you. They'll use you and your peers as much as possible to advance themselves."

Nora leaned forward, her face as serious as ever.

"And it's thanks to the president that we're all able to enjoy a normal school year! So be grateful!"

"Alright, alright, calm down Nora."

"But it's true!"

"What are those factions?" asked Geoffrey.

"The third years. The disciplinary committee's real objective is to be their greatest obstacles. To some extent it's working, but not as well as we'd hope for."

"I have yet to see a single third year."

"You've most likely met one already," replied Natsu.